The Freakin' Sleeve

I get it, I haven't posted in a long time. Don't hate me. I do, however, have good news! I am currently down almost 20 lbs!!! It was more... but then I went to the Illinois Reading Conference in Springfield last week and, well, I didn't exactly follow "the plan".

Anyway... today marked the first day of my spring break. I would like to tell you I was strong and I ate fruit and veggies.... but you are my friend and I won't lie to you like that. Today was full of icecream with my son, potato chips, left over pasta for dinner, and (worst of all) A FREAKIN' SLEEVE OF THIN MINTS! Please note: a co-worker taught me years ago that saying you ate a "sleeve" of Girl Scout cookies sounded better than calling it what it is --- which is HALF OF A BOX!

Bottom line... I need more support. I find I really do well under the structure of the work environment. I stay busy so I don't snack, I eat my cute little Lean Cusine and an orange for lunch, and then I come home and eat a meal with the family. Life is good. I struggle when I have too much time on my hands.

So, as I leave you tonight to watch the other half of SMASH, I can see that I clearly need to find more things to do around here so I'm not tempted by those miniature temptress' cookies! I think I'll work on a list of things to choose from when I'm thinking about snacking. Hopefully that works. I can do this... probably. (10lbs to go!!!)

The Double Digits!

Okay Friends! Today is the BIG DAY! I've finally hit the double digits! Honestly, it could be more... since I didn't actually stand on a scale at the start of this thing.

We did Biggest Loser at school that ended right before Christmas --- I'm sorry --- "Winter" Vacation. I, obviously, didn't win that... in fact, my hubby did! So I was still a winner because he bought me awesome Christmas presents with his winnings! Anyway... When I started the school's biggest loser, I was (gulp) 183lbs!!! Eeek Right? When it ended I was around 176lbs, (not my best effort). Christmas came and I didn't even think about what I was putting in my mouth. So, it's QUITE possible that I went back up to 183 or more.

I've been using my last "Biggest Loser" weight of 176 as my start weight for this project. I'm pretty excited to announce that as of this morning I am down to 165!!!!  11lbs!!! WOO HOO!!! Hubby got to enjoy a scale dance this morning - I was really excited!

I need to mention for a minute how proud I am of my hubby! Like I said before, he won our school's biggest loser contest by losing over 50lbs! Since October, he's lost over 100 with good food choices and exercise! He's so amazing. Anyway, he's celebrating today too because he just got back into his favorite pair of jeans. This was his goal and I couldn't be happier for him! He looks fantastic too I must add! Great job honey!!! He is my number one supporter and I am so lucky to have him!!! With his help and all of your support, I can do this... probably!
 

The Lounge...

Ahhhh... the teacher's lounge. It's a place of relief and a little mini-sanctuary when things just need to be blocked off for a few minutes of the day. It's a teacher's happy place --- unless you're on a diet! Have you ever actually walked in to one of these places??? They are a mecca of bad food choices! People that don't frequent them often are skinny and the people that spend time in there bonding with their fellow teachers (like me) - are usually not. Yes, there are some exceptions to this observation. I'm just not one of them and I need to be VERY careful when I go inside. You never know what dieting horrors await! Bottom line... today was a bad day.

Every Wednesday is what we call "donut day". It's terrible. The smell of those fantastic, freshly frosted, yummy cake donuts fill the air and sometimes even the hallways outside! Today was no different. I take that back --- today was a little better! One of my fellow dieters made sure there was fresh fruit, yogurt, and other healthy alternatives! That was SO considerate! I was really proud of myself when I walked in and scooped up some cantaloupe and marched off to the faculty meeting. I was less proud when I went back and ate 5 Andie's mints they left on the table to share - those things are 26 calories a piece!!! I, of course, didn't think about this until after I had a couple more on my plan period, (nobody else was eating them and they're addictive! "Hello, My name is Jessica and I have an addiction to mint chocolate").

Anyway, lunch was no better! I had my delicious 250 calorie frozen lunch like a good girl... but... the danishes the girls brought, (being oh-so-thoughtful), this morning looked SO good. Just one couldn't be that bad for me right? Then I noticed that someone else cut one in half... and the one cut in half was mostly fruit. Fruit is good for you, right? Basically, I deluded myself into eating all of this really-not-bad-for-you-in-moderation-but-don't-be-a-hog-about-it food. After I put it into my calorie counter I surely wished I hadn't had all of that!!!

Long story short, (I know... too late Jessica), I need to work more on self-control again. I was doing SO WELL and today I just fell off the wagon! But!Today isn't over yet... I still have time and LOTS of energy now that I ate all of that crap! I'm going to head to the gym, eat a sensible dinner with the family, and hope to recoup some of this MASSIVE calorie in-take! After looking it up on www.myfittnesspal.com, I only have to do a half hour of elliptical to earn back enough calories to have something substantial for dinner! LOL! I can do this... probably!


This picture pretty much sums up how I feel today's dieting went... tomorrow will be better!!!

The Joke...

We were driving down the street the other day, just hubby and I, and we passed a terrible hole-in-the-wall kind of place you wouldn't normally go to eat unless a friend goes, "Oh have you ever tried ___________? It is so good! It's a real secret gem!" As we were driving passed, it reminded me of a time earlier in the year when just this conversation took place.

The girls and I were all ready to lunch and we were playing the game: "Where do you want to go? Oh, I don't care' what do you feel like? I'm good with whatever... (this goes on until someone who is really hungry says...) How about (insert name of a place you've never walked in because the outside looks sketchy)? It's a real hidden treasure!" So you all go there and it ends up being yummy but an hour later you're in that scene from Bridesmaids minus the wedding dress.

Long story short, I told hubs the whole story. Then I asked him if he wanted to go in and try it. He looked at me like I maybe have really lost my mind so I had to explain myself. You see, I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it really struck a chord with me...



Don't worry! I'm not really seeking out food poisoning! Like I said in my title... this is a joke. I have been having a much easier time choosing healthy options when I go out to eat! I don't know if you've tried it, but Wendy's makes a great salad with apples and cranberries.... I'm a fan. I am also in love with Poor Boys', (an actual Kankakee gem), Greek Chicken Salad. Things are going VERY well on the weight loss front!!! You'll be proud to hear as of today I'm down 8 pounds! Things are getting exciting and I am always so thankful for all of the positive comments and support! I can do this... probably!

The Gift...

I may have told you this already but we don't own a scale... or should I say we didn't own one until today! Hubby and my daughter hit Target today so she could sweet talk him out of a new dress she had her eye on. While they were there hubby bought me what I've really wanted since I started this whole adventure... a SCALE! (Note to men: most women will not be happy with you if you buy them a scale. I am a freak of nature. Do NOT try to win a woman's affection with a scale unless she specifically asks for one!)

So, I know you're probably just DYING to know... so I'll just tell you... I've lost 5 pounds!!!!! Woo Freakin' Hoooo! I may or may not have done a dance right there on my new, (and very cool/high-tech looking), scale! I only danced until I realized dancing on the scale makes the numbers go up and I wasn't interested in that nonsense. So, needless to say... today was a good day!

You may have noticed I haven't been writing much about my "running" efforts. We hit the gym hard on Wednesday and I got brave again and did my run/walk routine until I got a crazy pain in the back of my left leg near my ankle. I must have pulled something because it hurt all night! I was asking some more active friends and one asked me what shoes I ran in and did they offer me enough support. I didn't really consider this until they asked. I've been using the same gym shoes since I was pregnant with my 4 year old. Bottom line: hubby and I both bought new gym shoes today. If you were wondering... yes... they're gray and pink.

I've been thinking a lot about my tag line. I'm pretty sure it could use some more optimism. I'm really happy with my progress for today so I've decided to change it for the occasion. Thank you to everyone for the advice, support, and love. I CAN DO THIS... PERIOD!

The Diet...

So, on my quest to get skinny again, I've encountered a lot of free advice. As an only-child-people-pleaser I find myself saying "Oh thanks! I'll have to see if that works for me!" way more than usual. I haven't stepped foot on a scale and I feel like I've been taking this diet thing seriously for about a real week now. I know what my start weight was... I may devulge that at some point... when I'm feeling brave. I have to admit I'm curious but I'm just happy my pants are starting to fit a little more comfortably!!! I think this might be the weekend to finally break down and buy a scale for the house. With that said, I loved this picture I came across the other day. I hope my kids will know it's a scale. I try to not talk diet nonsense in front of them. Kids hear enough body image nonsense. They don't need to hear it from me too!
For now, I've been sticking to a calorie-counting diet. I MUST tell you about the tool I'm using! It's incredible and if calorie counting is your thing you should look into it! It's called My Fitness Pal. They have an app for my phone, tablet, and a website! They make it SO easy to keep up with my food diary/calorie counting!!!  Check it out!!! My Fitness Pal --- There's the link to help ya out!
I'm curious... what's your diet style??? Take my poll at the bottom of the page! If you have something that I didn't give as an option please leave it here as a comment!!! I can use all of the help/advice I can get. I can do this... probably!

The Cupcake...

  I've been doing a pretty darn good job with this whole "eating better/exercising" idea... until my weakness walked through my classroom door. Two things I struggle saying no to waltzed into my classroom today right around 2:00 - a cute kid that I know holding a case of birthday cupcakes. I know I'm not the only teacher with this weakness. I really tried to think of a way around it. I just couldn't. There she was with her cute birthday girl smile. There I was asking the same dopey teacher question, "Oh wow! Is it your birthday??? Happy birthday!" This is always followed by the same question, "Would you like a cupcake?!?" --- What kind of question is this??? Of course I want a cupcake! Should I eat one --- NO!
  So there I was... birthday girl gone... my students at art class... just me alone in my room with the cupcake. I thought if I just took the little happy birthday pick off the top and tasted the frosting I would settle my craving. That was wrong. I, then, did the logical thing. I went onto my calorie counter and checked the nutrition facts. They weren't what I was hoping for. Tons of carbs (obviously), high in fat, and around 250 calories! I looked at my calorie count for the day and made the logical decision to maul the cupcake as quickly as possible.
  I found this image after my speedy consumption of said cupcake. I think I need to print it out and tape it to my teacher desk. I also think I need to figure out what to do when someone offers me a cupcake! Do I take it and toss it? Maybe bring it home to my kids for a surprise desert? Raffle it off to good students? I think I need some suggestions from my friends at work.
To end on a bright note... I wore pants to work that haven't fit me in a LONG time!!! It really put an extra pep in my step this morning!!! It just reminds me that I can do this... probably.