05/31/2008 09:53
All done and dusted
What a relief. I mailed off our removal of conditions application/packet yesterday. A couple of days later than I would have liked but oh well. It's on it way now. Now we wait. We should receive an NOA (Notice of Action) and then we will get a letter for a biometrics appointment and then we should receive the 10 year greencard. All of this will be done in about 12 months. Evidently the gov. has a back log...nothing new there. We have an appointment with immigration Thursday at 1:15 to make sure everything is alright after the fiasco coming back from our cruise. Fingers crossed it goes well!
Anyway.... Had an alright day yesterday. I was fine until about 8:30 last night... I caved in to Taco Bueno. No particular reason other than I was hungry. But today is another day and even better tomorrow is Sunday and the first of the month. So for all those peeps (including me) that like to "start" on the first day of the week AND the first day of the month tomorrow is YOUR (my) DAY!!!!! I am really ready for my half marathon training to start. I know it will help to keep me on track. In the mean time I really need to start getting serious about exercising. If the weather permits today, perhaps a bike ride later?!?! Sounds good to me!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!
XO, A
05/29/2008 18:59
June is almost here!
So, um yeah... May was a bust. All though I did manage to reach my all time low on EP of 207. I was @213.5 today. No biggie. I am moving on to bigger and MUCH BETTER things!
If you remember a couple of months back I joined a local running club. Well the running goddesses must be smiling on me today because I got an email regarding the half marathon I am doing in November and they are offering a training class for the members -- only $25! Heck yeah! That's a bargain. So now I am totally pumped. I guess it really does help when you have something to look forward too or a physical even that is going to be challenging. From July 9 until December 14 every Saturday morning and Wednesday night you will know where to find me -- tearing up the pavement!
June isn't quite here but here are my goals.
June 25 -- 205.5
July 16 -- Onderland 199.5
August 15 -- James Blunt Concert 190
September 23 -- B-day weight **** 100 pound mark**** 178.5
October 17 -- NKOTB Concert -- 40 pound loss from 5-29 until 10-17 (me & bff goal) 173.50
November 2 -- In the 160's for First Half Marathon.
December 31 -- 150
January 31 -- 140 GOAL BABY!!!
I would love to achieve my goal weight in 2008 but... starting 2009 off with only 10 pounds to lose is fine!
XO, A
05/28/2008 22:46
It's going better
As the day progressed I started feeling better. I really wish TOM would get here. I've got slight cramps, a backache, the "girls" are feeling it and my anxiousness is DRIVING me BONKERS!!!
Work went good today. Even though I had to go get lunch. My boss hands me an envelope as we are standing in the file room and says "here is your bonus for this tax season, its cash". Suuuuhhweeeeet! $300 buckaroos! Oh yeah. I was excited. After work I met
taebo.diva for coffee at s'bux. We both ordered skinny iced lattes, she got vanilla, I got hazelnut. We talked and talked and talked and then she suggested we visit the farmer's market just up the road. I got bell peppers, mushrooms, spring onions, peaches, strawberries, cauliflower and tomatoes. For dinner I made chicken breast w/ Mrs. Dash Chipoltle seasoning and stir fried the yellow, red and green bell peppers with mushrooms, tomatoes and spring onions. It was so good! I have always wanted to try the yellow and red peppers and I do believe I am in love. The yellow seem to be the sweetest. Peter also helped me with the cutting of the veggies (I think he could tell I am getting ready to flip my lid). So anyway after that my bff called to let me know she lost 1.5 pounds at her weigh in today then we got to talking and discovered that NKOTB will be in Texas October the 16-19. Woohooo. We are trying to decide if we want to go to the San Antonio concert or the Dallas one ( which would be closer, obviously). We have it marked on the calendar when the tickets go on sale. ***Side note**** they have an AMEX presale but you need to have a password. If anyone can help me out with this I would be greatly appreciative. Neither me or MG have an AMEX card.
On to the weight related things... I made it through an entire day on plan! It was very hard at s'bux though. They had cookies and all their desserts just sitting there staring at me.
I do have to work tomorrow. I have to fill in for NH who had eye surgery and she works 8-5 so I will be at work ALL day and all day next Tuesday:(
Anywho its late and I am exhausted. Sleep tight!
XO, A
05/27/2008 15:13
Worn out lass...
I had a total crap weekend. Eating wise, it was HORRIBLE until today ( at least I have made it past breakfast and lunch). I went way overboard on the food. But it seems I am back on track today.
I don't really want to go into what happened over the weekend. I am moving on.
I didn't make it to the 5k yesterday. I didn't sleep well Sunday night and when I woke up Monday morning, it was evident I wasn't going to have the energy to run. So I didn't go.
I think its time for another change to my program. Now that school is out I can focus more on weaning myself off of my frozen meals and try to get in the kitchen more. Don't get me wrong the frozen meals are so very handy especially at work. I need to start cooking more for dinner and cooking healthy for all of us.
I also want to change my program because I feel the beginning of being stuck in a rut. I have been eating pretty much the same thing since January and if I don't start changing things up a bit I feel I might start to slip into the "diet coma" I slipped into last summer. I do not want that at all.
I think the problem with summertime is that I have too much time on my hands and I take advantage of the fact I don't have much going on. I want to just lay around and get lazy. I can not let that happen. I need to stay in the same frame of mind I had during the school year. I also wish my running class was going to be in session this summer. I think that really helped me to stay on track too. I miss my runs on Monday and Thursday nights.
I try my hardest to be a good wife and "bonus mom". There are days that I get tired of being a wife and mom. No one takes care of me but me. Yet I am expected to do EVERYTHING for everyone else. I get so tired of it. My husbands thinks because he works 40 hours a week he shouldn't have to lift a finger. Yet, I work 15 hours a week outside of the home and the other what 104 hours I work in the home (those hours do not include the 6-7 hours of sleep I get a night). My husband couldn't even tell you what I eat for breakfast because he doesn't ever make my breakfast. If I ask him to do something around the house I end up doing it because he doesn't know where it is, or where that goes, or anything like that or he just complains about doing it and I get tired of hearing about how he works 40 hours a week and I just do nothing. It drives me nuts. Then there are the kids. They are pretty good about helping around the house (it is part of their chores) and I am thankful for that but they aren't my kids, they are someone elses kids. Neither of them wished me a happy mother's day or got me a card. That really hurt my feelings. I get so tired of picking up after them. I guess when I got married I had this "idea" of how things would be and well... its not like I thought it would be. I get all the chores of being a mom but don't reap any of the benefits because I am not their mom. I love those boys but its so hard to love someone when you don't get anything back.
Peter called at lunch today and had made the comment his jeans were tight today (he's gained 10 pounds) and he said I need to get back on track like me. So I told him about my new program and I told him it would be helpful if he would help with dinner so I don't have to spend hours in the kitchen. He was like oooooooooooh great I have to help.
I shouldn't have to do it all myself. GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr
05/25/2008 09:57
Poor choices.
These weekend has been filled with poor choices.
Poor choice #1 -- Friday Peter and I ended up going out to eat for dinner. When I am trying to lose weight I tend to stay away from dining out and travel fullstop. I will be the first to admit those two situation provide an environment which I do NOT thrive in for what ever reason. Needless to say I wasn't living well at dinner time.
Poor choice #2 -- Saturday Peter and I went to our local British Shop to pick up a few things like Bisto Gravy Granules, Heinz baked bean and rice pudding (these are a must have in our house), scones, double devon clotted cream, chocolate and crisps. The latter are not must haves but they just taste so darn good. I knew better than to go in their hungry. Note to self do not go shopping hungry.
Poor choice #3 -- Let's just say the rest of Saturday was spent indulging in all the food things I have done with out because the day started out with crap eating anyway. There were things like s'bux, bahama bucks, taco bueno and a heaping bowl of chocolate chip ice cream.
Poor choice #4 -- Today for breakfast I had a scone with double devon clotted cream and a pop tart even though I felt like a bloated mess. I am not blaming TOM for my poor choices but it surely doesn't help the situation.
Here's the deal, even though I didn't do good for brekkie today, I don't have to eat like crap the rest of the day. Do you hear this txlass??? Just because you didn't eat well for breakfast doesn't mean you can throw the towel in for the entire day. DO not do it. Tomorrow morning you have a 5k and I know you don't want to feel like you do right now when you run!
Please listen to me!!! I know what I am talking about!
05/23/2008 21:10
I'm bored.
Does anyone ever have an itch they can't scratch? I feel like that. I have an itch to get out and do something I just don't know what. Peter was able to get out of work early, but now he is asleep on the couch. I just sent SB to S'bux to get me a nice cool skinny iced hazelnut latte. I took the day off from the gym. I have had a killer headache since Tuesday. Its one of those heachaches that start in my neck and I can put my thumb on it and try and rub it out but it just isn't helping.
Scales were up a pound from yesterday?!?!? Don't know what that is about but whatever. I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing. My body may be in protest over the lack of food its had compared to the abundance of food from last week. It is what it is and I am in no way worried about it.
Man, I wish I could figure out what it is I want to do, maybe I just need a nap? I tend to get sort of anxious when TOM is nearing...naps seem to help. I really wish I could go over to my BFF's parents house (they live about an hour and a half away) and float in their pool listen to my zune and eat fresh peaches from the peach tree a few yards away from the pool. Now that sounds perfect.
Alright, I guess that's it for now... Check in with ya later!
05/22/2008 10:04
Morning!!
Yea! It's almost the weekend and a 3 day weekend at that! My first day back at work went well yesterday. Thankfully both bosses were out, but I still had stuff to catch up on so that kept me busy. As usual once I got home I had the usual domestic things to take care of. I didn't go to the gym but I did manage to get a short run in last night. My shin splints started acting up towards the end but not nearly as bad as they have been. I may try to get 1 more run in before Monday but I don't really want to push it. When I got home I iced them and watched the last 15 minute of A.I..
I have quite a bit to do today. I have a LHR appt at 10:15 this morning. Then I need to stop at the Yankee Candle store ( I have a coupon for buy 2 get 1 free). They have their summer scents out and have combined two of my favourites, lemon and lavender. The lemon reminds me of times as a child when my mom would clean the house and it smelled like lemon pledge and lemon pinesol. We would open all the windows in the house and turn on the "attic fan" and I would just lay on my bed and take in that wonderful smell. The lavender reminds me of my last summer in England before Peter moved here. We went to the Tall Ships Race. They had loads and loads of vendors up and down the quayside and I found one that had bunches of lavender for sale. I bought a couple for the house and some to bring back to Texas. It was one of the best summers I had (Peter proposed to me). Its just one of those smells that makes me smile.
l also need to go to the custom framing store. Peter and I had our portrait taken while we were on the ship and if I may brag...it is the BEST picture of us I have ever seen. It was so good that we had a canvas copy done to be framed professionally. I just hope it doesn't cost me an arm and leg to have it done.
After that I need to make copies of all the evidence I have compiled over the past 2 years to prove that Peter and I are still married and didn't enter the marriage to pull one over on immigration. I am hoping to get all that done so I can mail it off next Tuesday (or sooner). I still need to get 2 affidavits from people who know us.
That is all the MAJOR things I have to get done today. If I don't make it to the gym I am just going to go for a bike ride tonight or hop on my treadmill.
I am feeling back to normal now after 8 days of stuffing my face. I am back on track and it feels so good. This summer is going to be so much better than last years (weight wise).
Have a wonderful Thursday y'all!
XO, A
05/21/2008 16:03
P.S.
I almost forgot I am down another 2 pounds today! Only 5 more to go till I am back at my pre-cruise weight!
05/21/2008 15:59
20% - 20% - 60%
I am inspired daily by so many things. So many things that well, it is almost impossible to name just one that "gets" me every time. But one thing that motivates me everyday is the attitude/behavior changes I see in myself. The way I see it is that losing weight is divided up into 3 parts. 20% eating good, 20% exercise and 60% attitude/behavior. My attitude plays a major role in my weight loss success and so do my behaviors. Each day I choose to have a positive attitude that choice puts me that much closer to reaching my goal of living well and losing weight permanently. Each day I choose to behave in away that promotes weight loss that also brings me one step closer to reaching my goals.
When I jumped on this ride in January 2007 I never would have imagined my attitude/behavior would have changed so much. I have had an attitude adjustment like you would never believe.
I no longer view exercise as a pain in the butt. It is what I do now. It's something I will have to do for the rest of my life; plain and simple. I have accepted that.
I changed my view towards food. It is not there to comfort me, it is there because I need it to live. Food will always be there; there is no need to stock pile it as fat on my body.
I also view people in a different way. I don't care if someone doesn't like me b/c I have a weight problem; that's just shallow and I wouldn't want to be their friend if that was the case.
I changed my attitude towards being overweight.The thing is I won't always be fat. But I will always have to live well in order to keep the weight off. Living well is a way of life and to be successful this is how it has to be.
I learned to stay positive no matter the situation. I can't control anything or anyone. What I can control is how I react to situations. Having a positive attitude towards anything that is hurled my way is a must.
I don't wait to do things that I have planned for my goal weight. I do them now; like running. Why the heck would I want to wait til I am at 140. Running has obvious health benefits, and I deserve to have those benefits no matter what weight I am at.
Food is not the answer and will never be the answer so I chose not to go down that road when I am upset. Eating is the one thing I absolutely can not do when I am upset, stressed, emotional, happy or whatever I am feeling -- I just don't eat. There is no other option.
A few quotes I like that keep my attitude in check:
If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
The only disability in life is a bad attitude. ~Scott Hamilton
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes. ~William James
XO, A
05/20/2008 21:13
La dee da
Thank you everyone for the sweet comments on our pics. It made my heart smile :). As you noticed from my previous post the scales are moving downward. Thank goodness. Although I knew they would, it was just a matter of when. I think I got most of my to-do list checked off for today. What didn't get done will get done tomorrow. I didn't make it to the gym; I went and got a massage instead. My neck, back and shoulders have been killing me since we got back. I am guessing it's from hauling all that luggage around.
I'm in a good place right now as far as my mental and physical ability to lose weight is concerned. My legs are feeling much much better; but I haven't tried them out at running just quite yet. I did sign up to do a 5k this Monday with the boys. I also registered for the DRC Blooming 4 mile in June and in July the Too Hot to Handle 5k. In addition to that one in July I am also doing the DRC Independence 5k. There is nothing more motivating (for me) than know I am doing these runs and every time I do them I will weigh even less each time. I can't wait for the half marathon in November. Fingers crossed I should be at goal then. Just typing that gets me all pumped up. I will reach my goal in a matter of months and it will be this year. Not next year but 2008! Wooohoooooo!!!
Summer has arrived here in Big D. It was 95 degrees today. I have yet to run in such heat so it should make for an interesting next couple of months. I really need to find some shorts that don't creep too. Running in black Capri's isn't very cool. You want to know what the thing I want most out of losing weight (other than losing the weight) is? I don't want my legs to rub together. I hate that. Hate it, hate it hate it. It drives me bonkers; especially when I am running in shorts, which is very rare.
I guess that's all for now. Let's see if I can't get some more crossed off my to-do list.
XO, A
