Making it through

This was not a week of sabatoge! Yet the scale was not as giving as I would have liked. I gained nothing. I also lost nothing. But I suppose that is better than nothing. I ate out once, it wasn't the best meal on the menu I could've chosen. It consulted of eating half a cheeseburger and fries, which I split with a friend. Feeling absolutely miserable I decided not to do that again. Well last night for dinner my dad made Lengua tacos. They were delicious, and I had 4. They were the small corn toritilla tacos, not big burrito type things ok. I was good and full after that. However it just stayed with me too long. Coming to the conclusion, beef is rebelling against me. Lame! So steering clear of such this week all together. I even told J please don't make anything heavy for dinner tonight. He loves to cook and he loves to do special meals when I go over, but no big meals. Honestly a bowl of cereal would suit me just fine tonight.

Gonna boost up my game at the gym this week, heading there after work and plan on being there every morning this week. That scale better give it up damnit! I have a good month and a half to lose at least 10 more lbs before I leave for Seattle. Which reminds me I need to buy tickets. I discussed buying a "goal dress." A dress I can wear once I reach my goal. But I have decided against that. In May I will either be shopping for a new dress to wear to Wish Night or having one of my old dresses from one of the many weddings I've been in altered. *crossing fingers* August is Kel's wedding and I have to get a black dress to wear since I am in the wedding party. Here is to toned arms, flatter stomach and an incredible ass! Will work on the boobs later on down the road. Figure I will throw that on top of the student loan debt after I have had children. Ha! Ha!

Finally figured out J's 30th Birthday plans. I have been through a million and one ideas making it exceedingly difficult. Its hard when you bf is past the stage of going out but he still likes having a good time with friends, but you don't have a space big enough to just throw a party, ugh I can't wait to have a house someday. I can just make dinner and invite people over rather than trying to figure out where the hell to go. Sending out the facebook invite this week hopefully all can attend and he will be happy. He should be happy because I am getting his dang XBOX fixed. Not the best present in the world but what do you want we have 2 yr anniversary 2 days after his bday. Yea we planned that well. Just like my Birthday is 13 days before Christmas. At some point we're gonna have to remedy these events.

Miss Me Yet?

Hello happy people! Are we happy today? I am!

Put on my clothes this morning and there was a noticeable difference in how they fit. Its hard to tell when you wear scrubs all week if you're losing or not. The scale has been kind too. Says I lost 7 lbs so far. I hope it gives me good news this weekend when I do my weigh in for the week. I find this working together at work business has been a blessing. Still no real eating out unless you count subway and no bringing in bad for you foods. Decided wolfing it on the treadmill was the way to go for me. I did that yesterday and my abs, my legs and ass hurt. Whee, its some major pain! Just a thought. They should really make some underwear that eliminates booty sweat! Just sayin'

I am excited about some upcoming events. Today I get to go to my first meeting for Wish Night. Wish Night is Make A Wish Foundations, big fundraising event they do each year. One of the many reasons I am having all this incentive to lose weight. Thennnn there is a Society of Professional Journalists conference this month that will provide information and networking opportunities. Annnnd I am going to an informational meeting about working for DISD and them paying for your teaching certificate. I am really hoping something comes of that. I hear DISD can be rough and typically they make you sign to teach in their school district for 2-3 yrs. But I feel like I have something to offer in that realm, and am confident that I could handle it. I need to get my foot in the door.

My problem is I have too many things I would like to do. And I have been trying to narrow them down so I can be more productive in making those things happen. I want to write in any capacity really. I would love to be a teacher, I think I would've been really good at that. Then there is anything non-profit relation to children. Oh and event planning, primarily weddings. See what I mean!

Good Morning People

I will try to be diligent about continuing to write. But I have a trainee that will start this morning and it seems that my time will be taken up during the next three weeks. Sorry guys the price I pay for being so awesome at my job. HA! HA!

This morning was dreadful to try and wake up this morning. Didn't hit snooze but I surely wanted to. Stupid J keeping me up late talking. He was in a retardedly goofy mood last night, it was borderline annoying. Anyways so went to the gym and I am curious as to whether all machines accurately tell you how many calories you are burning. When I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical yesterday with arms I burned 455 calories, put in my weight and age and that. Today I rode the bike for 30 minutes and burned 244 calories same deal. However riding that bike burned my thigh muscles like you wouldn't believe. Where working on the elliptical got my heart rate up and I could tell it gave me a good cardio work out. I don't it deserves some research but not today.

This week has already been slightly worse than last week. I ate out twice. You already know about my trip to heaven, but then last night I had Lobster Ravioli. It couldn't be avoided it sat their on the menu taunting me and it was dinner with my old roomate. Great conversation needs great food . . . right! I am so proud of my old roomate she got an internship with Tom Landry for cardiac rehab. She is getting her Masters, sometimes I really think I should go back and do that for real.

My old roomate's wedding is Aug. 28 and I am in the house party. Surprise surprise Maria is in another wedding. But it is incentive for more weight loss. I could lose a lot by then. I lost 4 lbs at my weight in this week and I won't weigh in again until Monday morning. I can only hope I am as successful this week. I would like to lose 10lbs by the time I go to see my doctor next month. Weight is something they always mention at every yearly visit and with the my bp as it is here lately I need to show her that I am trying.

I found Heaven today!

Thats right, I used to know of a place like this. A place that breeded creativity and relaxed me and made me feel as if the rest of the world didn't exist. A place where I could do what I loved for as long as I liked and no one would ridicule or make me feel any less responsible for doing it. A place with the kinds of distractions I liked. Low music playing in the background. Good music at that! Oooh how appropriate Belinda Carlisle's Heaven a place on earth is playing. Me likes.

Its a coffee shop people. And I don't think you all realize how much I seek little mom and pop shop places for coffee and wifi. In Denton they were all over the place and it was impossible to not find a place to write. Of course then I was writing for the paper and my creative stuff rarely got onto the screen. BUT NOW! As part of my New Year's resolution to write, here I am.

I was sick yesterday. Awful in bed sick all the live long day. Think of the worst possible headache on the top of your cranium baring down and trying to squash your brains to smliterings! Something like that. The when I finally got up and ate something I threw it up. Don't know what that was about. Anyways my blood pressure was up all weekend and to be honest the headache had come and gone since Thursday. So going to work and being yelled at by mean callers was not something I thought was in the best interest of my head or my bp plus I still wasn't sure what food would do to me the next time around. So I sucked it up took and occurrence and was a bum most of the day. Went to the doc and they will be increasing my bp medicine. Yay increase dosage of bp medicine at 25. Got to love it! Then I took my happy self to dare I say this out loud where my co-workers can read . . . coffee shop. Spoons cafe to be exact. I had a BLTA and potato soup. And this was not just any BLTA the Bacon was thick and of the applewood sort and the lettuce was crisp with tomato thin and the avacodo fresh! The soup had crumbled of bacon and cheese in it. Not sure how good an idea it was for the diet. But I don't give a flip, it was goood. The just as I was leaving the beautiful waiter who kept calling me sweetheart and I swear he was flirting with my eyes. Well this blonde cutie directed me where I sit currently. He told me it was more comfortable and had free wi-fi. The restaurant and coffee shop owned by the same peeps. And let me tell you this jasmine tea is divine and there is a strawberry cupcake calling my name loudly. God I want it! Not gonna give in though.

My book is about to break 1,000 wds, now that is nothing but its the most I have accomplished in months.

Helpful YAHOO Health

This was featured on Yahoo Health's page. Just good info.

Top Weight Loss Foods for 2010By David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding - Posted on Tue, Jan 05, 2010, 10:05 am PST

Eat This, Not That
by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding a Yahoo! Health Expert for Nutrition
Visit Nutrition Home »

More By This Expert
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If you're like most Americans, you've gained about 5 pounds since Thanksgiving. Each small holiday-season indulgence may have seemed like no big deal at the time, but added all together, they created the perfect storm for a juggernaut of jiggle. Don't believe us? Consider the caloric damage of typical holiday activities—weekly parties, with buffet tables lined with goodies and treats; cookies and cakes delivered by your well-intentioned neighbors; and seasonal beverages, from holiday lagers to rum-spiked eggnogs, that had you washing down those hundreds of extra calories with, well, hundreds of extrea calories. It’s no wonder Baby New Year always makes her debut toting a gargantuan gut!




In 2010, vow to eat better—not less, just better. Add these 9 best foods for weight loss to your daily (or weekly) diet, and watch as the pounds melt away. The best-selling weight loss series Eat This, Not That! shows you how to make a weight-loss resolution worth sticking to.




Full-Fat Cheese
This dairy product is an excellent source of casein protein-- one of the best muscle-building nutrients you can eat. What's more, Danish researchers found that even when men ate 10 ounces of full-fat cheese daily for 3 weeks, their LDL ("bad") cholesterol didn't budge.


Bonus tip: See which cheese won the distinction of “best” in the annual 125 Best Supermarket Food Awards.




Pork Chops
Per gram of protein, pork chops contain almost five times the selenium--an essential mineral that's linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer--of beef, and twice that of chicken. And Purdue researchers found that a 6-ounce serving daily helped people preserve their muscle while losing weight.




Ice Coffee
Coffee reduces your appetite, increases your metabolism, and gives you a shot of antioxidants. A study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that the average metabolic rate of people who drink caffeinated coffee is 16 percent higher than that of those who drink decaf. Caffeine stimulates your central nervous system by increasing your heart rate and breathing. Honestly, could there be a more perfect beverage? Plus, frequent mini servings of caffeine (8 ounces of coffee or less) keep you awake, alert, and focused for longer than a single jumbo one would, according to sleep experts. When you quickly drink a large coffee, the caffeine peaks in your bloodstream much sooner than if you spread it out over time. Start your day with an 8 ounce coffee (the "short" size is available by request at Starbucks). Or, ask for a large half caf. Then keep the caffeine lightly flowing with a lunchtime cappuccino (it's got only 75 mg, which is about one quarter of what you'd get in a 16 ounce coffee).


Bonus tip: Don't derail your diet. See our indespensible list of the 20 Worst Drinks in America.




Grapefruit
In a recent study, Louisiana State University scientists discovered that people who ate half a grapefruit three times a day lost 4 pounds in 12 weeks, even though they hadn’t deliberately altered any other part of their diets. Although the mechanism isn’t clear, the researchers speculate that grapefruit’s acidity may slow your rate of digestion, helping keep you full longer.




Apple
Turns out, an apple a day may also keep the extra weight away. Penn State researchers discovered that people who ate a large apple 15 minutes before lunch took in 187 fewer calories during lunch than those who didn’t snack beforehand. (The apples had around 128 calories.) What’s more, they reported feeling fuller afterward, too. Sure, the fruit is loaded with belly-filling fiber, but there’s another reason apples help you feel full: They require lots of chewing, which can make you think you’re eating more than you really are, says study author Julie Obbagy, Ph.D.



Eggs
Skip the cold cereal: Eating eggs and bacon in the morning can help you control your hunger later in the day. Indiana University scientists determined that dieters who consumed their biggest dose of daily protein at breakfast felt full longer than those who ate more of the nutrient at lunch or dinner. The upshot: “They were less likely to overeat the rest of the day,” says study author Heather Leidy, Ph.D. To fend off hunger, shoot for at least 20 to 30 grams of protein at breakfast.


Bonus tip: Just because it’s made with eggs doesn’t make it good for you—see our worst omelet in the list of 20 Worst Restaurant Foods in America 2009.




Beans
If you're not a legume lover, consider this: In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, scientists found that people who consumed beans were 23 percent less likely to have large waists than those who said they never ate them. The bean eaters in the survey also tended to have lower systolic blood-pressure measurements, says research Victor Fulgoni III, Ph.D. Legumes are rich in belly-filling fiber as well as potassium, which helps fight hypertension. Aim for half a cup of cooked beans 3 or 4 days a week.




Salmon
Fish isn't just good for your heart; it's good for your gut, too. That's because omega-3 fatty acids help you feel full longer, report scientists from Iceland. In the study, dieters who ate salmon felt fuller 2 hours later than those who either didn't eat seafood or had cod, a fish with little fat. The researchers found that eating foods high in omega-3s (like the ones to the left) increased blood levels of leptin, a hormone that promotes satiety. Hate fish? Take a fish-oil capsule every day - one that has 500 milligrams of the omega-3s DHA and EPA. It offers the same benefits as salmon.




Milk
Instead of fruit juice, reach for moo juice in the morning. Drinking milk at breakfast can help you eat less at lunch, Australian scientists say. In their study, overweight people who downed about 2 1/2 cups of skim milk in the morning consumed 8.5 percent fewer calories at an all-you-can-eat lunch spread than people who drank the same amount of fruit juice. Both beverages had an equal number of calories, but the milk contained 25 grams of protein while the fruit juice had virtually no protein and 63 grams of sugar. Those may be big servings, but the principle remains: Protein helps you feel fuller throughout the morning.


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I Turned Down Cake!

It was carrot cake, and I lied and said I didn't like it but honestly it was the perfect cake to be ordered this time of year so close to what would've been my grandpa's 63rd birthday. It was his favorite cake, but my grandpa died from causes all related ultimately to obesity. Granted his direct death was malpractice but he wouldn't have ever been in the hospital having triple bypass surgery if he has been taking care of himself. That being said. I turned down cake!

I'm proud of myself. And then I passed by the room where the cake remains and no one was around and I still didn't give in, just kept walking. Popped some of my Extra Fruit Sensations gum that is supposed to be good for snack cravings and ta dah! That much closer to getting out of here and working out!

Got the Beach on My Mind

I listen to country music. I was born and raised in Texas. Once upon a time I fit into wranglers and will get there again. I own 3 pairs of cowboy boots and have been thrown from a horse. Thats right this city girl is a little bit country. So listening to my country music this morning and this song comes on by the Zac Brown Band. Now even J likes the Zac Brown Band, probably because they're from Georgia. Anyways the song's chorus is below.

Got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today. Life is good today.

Adios en vaya con dios
Yeah I’m leaving GA
And if it weren’t for tequila and pretty senoritas
I’d have no reason to stay
Adios en vaya con dios
Yeah I’m leaving GA
Gonna lay in the hot sun and roll a big fat one
And grab my guitar and play

There is a lot more to the song with lines like:

But the plane brought me farther.
I’m surrounded by water
And I’m not going back again

Because my bartender she’s from the islands
Her body’s been kissed by the sun
And coconut replaces the smell of the bar and I don’t know if its her or
the rum

Has me in the mood to be on a beach somewhere getting my tan, drinking my beer and listening to the waves. Makes me want to cry when I think about the stinkin cold outside. Thats ok soon I will have the beach body to along with me the next time I go. Since I have plans to see a friend in Florida hopefully in April. Hopefully I have lost the 28 lbs I hope to lose by then.

I Hate Carrots

I just can't stand them and I especially can't stand them here lately because I will read these health tips that read: Instead of eating chips with your sandwich have some carrot sticks, they're crunchy and low-cal. I tried guys just can't do it. Yesteray I had some and they just are bland and tasteless and its just an overall gross vegetable. I even cooked them last night in a stir fry and I found myself parting them from the rest of the meal , by the end there was a little pile on the corner of my plate. So nooooo carrots. Down with carrots! I left the carrots for J and he ate them happily. He said I am weird because I don't like carrots but like mushrooms . . . uh fail to see the comparison. Its just cause he doesn't like mushrooms. He's weird. However he made me the most bestest salad today, it was freakin yummy. The incredients included; shredded cabbage with almonds, toasted sunflower seeds, broken up uncooked ramen noodles, la choy rice noodles, and this phenomenal dressing. The only part of the dressing was olive oil, vinegarette, and the seasoning from the ramen noodles . . . thats all I know. I nearly ate the whole thing and he made a lot.

I did make it to the gym this morning at 6:15 a.m. I stayed up too late for that business, so when I finally got in there and on that elliptical I didn't not burn what I should've in 45 minutes. Total of 365 calories should've been closer to at least 400. So taking a break this evening as I think I will go back tomorrow but I need some recover time for sure this evening. Gonna go home and stretch really well. We used some free weights in the office today and a resistance bands that one of the girls brought. (Thanks K!)

We all joined the 100 day challenge, all of 1st shift except our little pregnant lady joined. Its fun to know we are all on the same track and helping each other by being on the same team for once. I can't tell you how often I have been trying to lose weight and then someone brings in something decadant and amazing that I can't pass up. That has happened a whole lot less since we have moved into the new office. But this time it should't be a problem. I am excited!

Where the Pretty People Go

My alarm sounded at a beautiful 5:30a.m. and it was not nearly as painful as I thought it was gonna be. I jumped out of bed threw on my sweat pants and t-shirt and grabbed my stuff and down the road I went to the GYM! Traffic was not much better than it was when I normally travel so about an hour later I finally met my destination.

Walking into the gym that early felt weird, I thought for sure there wouldn't be that many people, but once I hit the locker room there was a much different picture. Women all over the place getting dressed to go work out others were fixing hair and makeup because they had already worked out. It was something I hadn't witnessed since being on the Basketball team way long ago.

I put my stuff in my locker and dragged my butt up the two flights of stairs. My feet were seriously resisting the steps, it was as if they knew what was about to happen. But we made it and at the top of the stairs in one of the classrooms was an aerobic instructor shouting out numbers to his followers. Thats where I first saw the Pretty People. The women dressed in their matching work out clothes in bright colors. Colors that should never be worn before 9a.m. 8a.m. at the earliest. The men wore shirts that were either tight or showed off their muscley muscles. I directly headed toward my workout machine and looked straight ahead. Before I knew it I was so in tuned with how many calories I was burning that no one else really existed. I listened to Good Morning America and kept on trecking. 30 min had passed and so did 304 calories. Yes!

Showered and dried my hair and dressed and left. The end. I was at work with ten minutes to spare. I have to say I felt good to be amongst the pretty people today. Something about that group of people working out said devoted. Devoted to wake up before most of the rest of the world, work out and break a sweat and then go to work. It made me feel accomplished.

In the future I will wake up a little earlier so I can make sure to get a full hour in. Today I only got 30 min in. I will return after work to ensure I burn more than I consumed this day. Everyone is saying to be careful and not to get burn out. I guess I do seem slightly obsessive but if I don't then I feel like I won't stick with it.

I want to be one of the Pretty People who order a salad with ease and don't get tempted by all the wonderful fried foods on the menu. (Maybe they do get tempted but they don't seem like it.)
I want to be one of the Pretty People who wake up and work out and look all put together by the time I hit my desk in the morning. I want to be one of the Pretty People who have adopted this as a lifestyle. The person that others look at and say she looks great. Now granted these are not my only reasons for this venture, but its my conceited reasons and right now I am using it as fuel.

Hunger and starvation

I am only on day 2 of calorie counting misery and already I want something ooey gooey and preferably cheesy with some sour cream. MMMMM. I'll get over it . . . really I will.

Had a co-worker offer me some chocolate and I took it! But I didn't eat it, it lays in my desk drawer, calling my name. I thought I would save it for an emergency but the longer it is in there the more I want to take it out and peel off the silvery wrapper and eat it. I looked at the calorie content too, it was lik 250 calories for 3 whole pieces. Really?! Really?! Not fair, its 83 calories for something that won't do anything good for me. When I had an apple this morning for less calories and it was at least providing my body with nutirents. Like how I am talking myself out of ever wanting that piece of chocolate as long as I live. Yup definitely throwing it away.

I worked out on this different kind of elliptical yesterday. It changes position so that you are pushing or pulling with the arms and you pedal. Somehow not only did it work out my arms and legs but my abs are sore today also. I don't know if it is just cause my body is like "what the H" are you doing after almost a month of not working out. Or is it just how awesome that machine was.

Mom and I went shopping and were very careful about what we purchased. Of the purchases today's lunch was a hit. The best part though was the discovery of Yoplait yogurt thick and creamy in the flavor of cinnamon roll. I took my time and ate it and pretended it was the icing that went on real cinnamon rolls. It was 100 calories yummers!

So far I have consumed 689 calories. Not too bad. Supposedly for my height and weight I am to consume 1800 calories a day to lose weight. That seems like a lot. I met exactly 1800 yesterday. Today I should fall under that.

Tomorrow morning I will be waking up at 5:30am and rolling out of bed and going straight to the gym. I plan to work out for an hour and then get ready at the gym for work. I look forward to seeing how this effects me. Since they say you have to burn more calories than you consume and 3,500 calories equals a pound I have to find a way to disperse the calorie burnage so I am not spending my whole evening at the gym and getting home real late.

Wish me luck!

Writing

I have another possible intro to the book. I posted it on my writing blog. Comments appreciated.

http://awaltermitty.wordpress.com/

Its a New Year!

Head em' up and move em' out! 2009 is gone! Woo hoo. Sorry I could not be happier, that what was probably the toughest year of my life. I am probably being dramamtic here but hey there was some changes, some transitions . . . some of them were good and some of them royally sucked!

Graduating a year ago I had much different visions of where I would be now. But que sara I am still working at the same bloomin' job I have been working for since March of 2006. Its a fine job, it pays the bills and its not all that hard. Could do without some of the drama and some of the stress people create. I don't like tension and I don't like drama, both make me feel highly uncomfortable and its been a bunch of that in 2009. Finally reached a point where I have "checked out" no longer mentally here. I think I have applied for a million jobs in the last month and will hit the ground even harder witht he coming of the new year. My best friend since 1st grade is no longer my friend, due to moral differences and just plain walking different paths. One of my bestest friends from college up and left me to go to Seattle. I am proud of her for making such a bold move and while she is having many ups and downs I know this is a time in her life she will look back on and be happy she did it. Its been difficult not to have her right there, its hard to have such a crappy day and know she isn't a 20-30 min drive away from meeting me for cheesefries and a beer. MMMM beer. Thankfully my other bestie is still local and gotten even more so, since she will be moving in with her boyfriend this month, that should prove for some interesting stories. Brother went off to school and hopefully is doing some growing up.

J got a job which is freakin awesome. Do you know how awesome it is to not have to worry if your boyfriend is gonna make rent, how awesome it is to go out to dinner without having the discussion of "how much money do you have." Its been a huge relief.

This year has to be better, it has to be an improvement. First off my motto for the year. 2010 the year to be thin!!! Haha I like it.

I will reach my goals this year. I have already made a deal with myself to make some drastic changes this year. Many motivations have come up. Since J has been talking more about marriage and such, developing these good habits early on is something I think would be good for us in the long run. I know J is unhappy with the weight he gained through his unemployment and I think that if we can just do this together it would be great. Then of course there is the added motivation of fitting into a swimsuit for when I go see my friend Tricia in Florida. Tricia was one of my best friends in highschool and college. However she was always small and petite and I always felt like her fat friend even when I was thinner in highschool. Well I was in her wedding in Hawaii and I remember being the only girl "at least in my mind" constantly worrying about how I looked and comparing myself to the rest of them. When I go to see her I would like to be able to join her on the beach in a swimsuit and know I look good too.

I will finish my book this year. Recently I've been working on honing my creative skills again. Lauren says I need to stop writing like a reporter, which is damn hard since that's what I have done for at least the last 5 years. So now its time to learn how to write pretty again. So I have been researching the great female authors of all time. I focused on female because lets face it, women writers of long ago were a treasure and they didn't know it then. The fact that they are still revered way after their deaths is a beautiful tribute to a path that was being carved even before they knew they were doing it. Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte and Margaret Mitchell have been my teachers the last few weeks. I will move on eventually but currently they are serving me well I do believe.

I hope everyone had a great New Years and I sincerely wish 2010 to be phenomenal for everyone. Much love!

M