Things Are Looking Up!

We found it! The ring, that is! I'll post a picture as soon as things are "official," LOL.

We already told my parents we were ring shopping, but Jeff wants to talk to my dad man to man, so I can't have my ring until he does that. Then, he wants to ask me all proper-like.

Eeep! I'm soooooo excited!!!!!

Anyway, I did really well yesterday! I tracked everything and got in a lot of walking! Plus, we went to Olive Garden and I only indulged in one breadstick and then brought 3/4 of my pasta home. I was soooooo excited, I could barely eat!

I had some cereal and a string cheese this morning and now I'm off to meet a girlfriend for stir-fry for lunch.

Happy Saturday everyone!!!

The Upcoming Week's Goals

I have a couple of goals this week that I really want to try to stick to. I figured I'd post them here in order to remain accountable.

(1) Go to the gym 3x this week -- I know I can do this. I already have plans to go on Saturday and Monday. I can surely fit in another visit some time else.

(2) Stay within my points -- that means no using negative points. I ended up 39 points in the hole this week (on top of weeklies and APs), so it's no wonder I gained.

(3) Walk every day -- as long as it's not to hot out, I will be dragging my little chubble dog for a walk every single day. If it's to hot, I'll go by myself.

Wish me luck! I betcha I can drop some major poundage just by doing these three things! Yay!

Weigh-In

Thanks for the kick in the butt, yesterday! I really needed that. No sense in moping!

Yes, I had a slight gain this week (0.8). But, you know what, it's not the end of the world. I lost 3 weeks in a row! That is awesome. And I will lose again! Just you see!

Last night, I walked the doggie a mile. It was kind of muggy and humid and his short little nose makes him pant a lot so we couldn't go further. He is doing so much better on his new meds, though! I am really hoping that they are going to be something we can continue through the summer. I'll talk to the doggie dermatologist next week and that should be good.

Today, I stopped at Starbucks for a fruit & cheese plate and an iced tea. I also packed a GINORMOUS container of fruit to munch on throughout the day. I'm going to try for a mostly vegan cleanse today (don't mind my cheese this morning!) and for the rest of the weekend. I think it will help me feel a bit more in control.

I'm also planning on going to the gym tomorrow (we have an appointment at another jewelry store tonight), so that will be good. I'm not sure I'll ever get to Stardust levels of working out (), but I'm definitely going to try!

Anyway, that's it for Friday. I have a ton of work to do today, so I'm going to get on that. I've got my "to do" list written up and I'm ready to go.

TGIF, everyone!

Bummed Out

Yesterday, I made some bad food choices. Ugh. But, I did track every thing, which is major progress. Even though I went over my weeklies, I at least wrote it all down.

I am bummed for a couple of reasons. Yesterday's binge is one of them. The other is that the jewelry store called and they can't order in the mounting I wanted for my ring. It is looking more and more like we're going to have something custom made. Which? Is fine, I guess... I just didn't really want to have to deal with that. Plus, I don't know how expensive that will be. Urgh!

Lastly, I went to the gym last night (I know, good job!). But it was the first time I had gone in quite a while (months!) and I'm so sorely out of shape, it's kind of pathetic. I could barely get through a half an hour on the elliptical without feeling as if I was going to throw up!

My sister was really supportive and just told me to do what I could and encouraged me as I felt like I was dying. She said to stick at 30 minutes for two weeks and then push up my minutes after that. I am going to do what she said, but I was just kind of disappointed in myself. You know?

Grrr...

The gym is really nice, however. It has little TVs on each machine! It has a pool! And a sauna! And workout classes! Very cool, huh? I am probably going to go again on Saturday morning, before I meet my girlfriend for lunch. I'm hoping that will keep me motivated. Plus, my mom said she'll only pay for the gym (as an engagement present) if I go twice a week.

I my mommy!

Okay, so I'm trying to feel less bummed out and more excited that I am making positive changes in my life. It doesn't help that is rainy and gross out. Still, nothing easy is worth doing. I will get there!

To Do List Accomplishments

Well, I got almost everything done yesterday that I wanted to do! I did not wash the floors, but that is okay. I did:

(1) Walk dog
(2) Give dog bath
(3) Clean bathroom (gross!) 
(4) Clean kitchen (double gross!)
(5) Vacuum
(6) Work Out
(7) Scrounge up dinner
(8) Grocery shop

So, only two things didn't get done. Mainly, because I was so tired after hauling the groceries up our three floor walk up (had to make 5 or so trips), I decided I just did not have the energy to finish the floors or do my DVD. I told my sister and she said that was okay, especially since I stayed within my points yesterday.

Yay!

Tonight, all I have to do is throw some lentils into a pot for stew and then wipe down the floors and have J vacuum and dust (those are his responsibilities). Then, my house will be clean, clean, clean!

We are maybe going to the show tonight, but we will play it by ear. It is super rainy here today, and I'd like to walk the dog at some point tonight, but it will depend on the weather. My doggie is on medicine that makes him gain wait, so I'm trying to walk his little chubbles right off! Well, his and mine!

Anyway, I did so great at the grocery store and didn't buy anything off plan except for some pizza flavored gold fish crackers. But, that is okay. You have to treat yourself once in a while, as long as you work it into your plan.

Today's food looks like this:

B - oatmeal (2), 1/2 grapefruit w/ splenda (1)
L - smart ones (5), grapes (1), string cheese (1)
D - lentils (6), mixed veggies (2)

TOTAL: 18
TARGET: 21

That gives me room left over for snacks -- I can sneak in some Twizzlers or popcorn to the movies, if we go. We'll see.

Have a great day, everyone!

Busy Monday!

Thanks for the excitement, everyone!

I pulled out my big "wedding book" that my best friends got me and started making notes in it yesterday. And today I started designing my save the dates. If they look okay, maybe I'll post a picture.

Kelly, I was thinking of you when I was posting how long we'd been together! Sometimes people make snarky comments about it (and even I've been known to second guess myself once or twice), but ultimately you have to do what is right for you and honey. Waiting until we had purchased a home and started our careers and gotten situated was the right decision for us. And I know you and your honey are making the right decision for you!

Anyway, I might have mentioned that my sister is going to be my new personal trainer. She wants to learn how to train people and so for the last three days she has been texting me every morning with my "workout goal for the day" and then I have to text her back when I complete it. Saturday and Sunday were easy days and today I have to do Jillian Michael's Shred! Hopefully I won't die.

Luckily, my fiance (hee!!) will be out with his boyfriends tonight so I won't embarrass myself to badly doing my DVD.

Well, that's it for today. I'm leaving for lunch in a few minutes (Panera since my fridge is empty) and am hoping that the afternoon goes by quickly. I have a ton of stuff to do around the house tonight:

(1) Walk dog
(2) Give dog bath
(3) Clean bathroom (gross!)
(4) Clean kitchen (double gross!)
(5) Vacuum
(6) Work Out
(7) Scrounge up dinner
(8) Grocery shop

I'm anxious to get started on it all. I will not rest until I get it all done! Then, I can enjoy my nice, clean house for the rest of the week.

Yup! That's the plan!

Happy Monday!!

I'm Getting Married!!!

Oh my god! I'm soooooo excited!

My boyfriend and I have been together for 8 years (yeah, I know!) and we've decided we're going to take the plunge! We've been together so long that we pretty much set a date this past January, we were just waiting until we had a ring.

Well... we still don't have a ring (though we do have a diamond) but I think I found a setting this week and I'm waiting to hear back from the jeweler as to whether or not they can order it from Australia! It's just that my stone is not a "standard" shape, so ordering the mounting with a new head is difficult, apparently. I love it so much I already went to "visit" it twice.

But I decided we're so close to having it that I'm going to tell everyone! We told my immediate family this weekend and his mom already knew since she supplied the diamond. It was Jeff's grandmother's and just beautiful.

I cannot wait to have it set and be able to wear it! Cross your fingers that the setting can be ordered! Otherwise we will have to have something custom made! Yikes!

I'm so freaking excited! I have a wedding book and a big bag to keep all of my wedding planning supplies in and it's so exciting! My sister is going to be my Maid of Honor and my best friend is going to be my Matron of Honor! We still have to tell our extended families and our friends, but we might wait for the ring for that. Not sure! Either way, I know everyone will be really excited for us. We've only been together for about a decade! LOL!

But, now that this is "on the books" so to speak, I have a little less than a year to really whip myself into shape. My sister is going to be my personal trainer -- on top of my yoga classes, I'm joining her gym -- and I've really buckled down with my Weight Watchers (3 pounds in 3 weeks is right on target!).

I'm going to try not to turn this into a wedding blog. Rather it will be a "getting into shape to start my marriage off right" blog. Does that make sense? Or does it sound snooty and pretentious?

Either way, I'm a little giddy right now. I'll be sure to update on the progress of the setting and whether or not we have to make something custom. I don't really want to go that route, though. We'll see.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!!

P.S. Dozer doggie is doing better. Only one day of pukies (hopefully I didn't jinx that) on the new medicine. If we can get through the next hour with no barfing, I'm going to call the transition a success. And I'm sure my vet tech will appreciate it because then I'll stop calling her 3 times a day!

Weigh-In

I am down again! 151.8 for a loss of a little over half of a pound! I will take it! Boo-yah!

That is three weeks in a row that I have lost weight and I am super happy about it. I'm just going to keep plugging along and keep tracking and trying to make healthy choices. I can do this!

Plus, I might have some pretty exciting news coming up, but I'm holding off until it's "official." Check back here after this weekend.

Doggie is doing good today. He didn't seem to have any adverse reactions from his medicine so that is DEFINITELY good news. We've still got about two weeks until we will know if the new medicine is really working, but wish us luck!

Happy Friday everyone!

Raspberry's Mid-Year Challenge

Dog Days

So, my doggie is sick. Well, not really. He has very bad allergies and he itches and wiggles and is miserable all day long because of it. When we leave him alone we have to put a t-shirt and a cone on him so he doesn't make himself bleed from itching so much! It is terrible and no life for an otherwise healthy, happy, dog.

Yesterday I took him to the doggie dermatologist and they recommended a whole slew of medications and treatments. He is now on four different prescription medications and he gets doggie spa treatments (baths!) 3 times a week with a medicated shampoo. I really, really, really hope that he feels better soon. I don't like it when my doggie feels bad.

The thing is, during the fall and the winter he is just fine. We barely even had to give him any anti-histamines between October and February. But as soon as things started melting, he started itching. Poor baby.

I've been kind of stressed out since it's so obvious he doesn't feel good. It was really rough on me this week and I was tempted to eat anything not nailed down. I think I managed to control the worst of the damage -- though I did go over my daily and weekly points once or twice. I'll weigh in tomorrow and find out.

Anyway, I'm hoping that we'll start to see some improvement in the next couple of weeks and that he'll be back to his old happy self. Please keep my doggie in your thoughts. We need all the help we can get!