"I had a bad day, so I deserve any and all the food that I want..."
"I'm too tired. I worked hard so I don't have to exercise. I deserve a break..."
Entitlement comes in many forms. Whether it's because you feel you are owed something just because, or because you feel you deserve a break because things have been difficult for you.
No, we don't deserve anything and we aren't owed anything. Quite the contrary. What we deserve and what we are owed is the opportunity to live a happy, healthy life. That doesn't mean that because I've had a bad day, I get to indulge in all the treats I want. That's silly. No wonder I'm fat; every day is a hard day. I don't get cakes, cookies, chips and comfort food because I've survived another day.
It's called life. Life happens.
Just because I want something, doesn't mean I deserve it. Just because you want a new car, a new house, a new body doesn't mean you deserve it. You have to work hard for it.
I can't wish away the the extra 50 pounds I'm carrying on my frame. I can't wish for things to be easier. Wishing is cute, but hard work gets the job done. Actually, at this point, any work will at least be a right step in getting the job done.
I'm not looking forward to Wednesday's weigh-in. Since Thursday, I've made excuses:
Thursday night: We deserve pizza because we had a power outage and a gas leak.
Friday lunch: We deserve lunch out because we survived another week.
Saturday: Peter had to work so we deserve a treat.
Sunday: We haven't had much of a weekend, so we deserve to have a nice lunch with friends that includes pre-appetizers, appetizers, a full meal and dessert.
Peter and I have been watching (well, he's been watching, typically I fall asleep on the couch, but whatever) the Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition show. Last week's contestant really struck a cord with me. He was so incredibly addicted to food, lying about what he was eating and exercising and simply couldn't make the changes he needed to make.
I understand that I'm not hundreds of pounds overweight, but truthfully, sometimes I'm surprised that I'm not. I've said and done most of the things that man had...he had all the help in the world but couldn't kick his addiction to food. He probably felt he deserved the fast food, the donuts, the whatever.
I really do believe there is some truth in the quote that "everyone is living the life that he or she wants," because if it's not what you want, you will take steps to fix it. This weekend and prior weeks, I didn't take the right steps to fixing myself so in a way, I was living the life that I wanted...or perhaps it was the life I deserved at that point?
What I deserve is stop making excuses, get off my butt and stop eating crap.
Here's to another Monday...another day and week to maybe get it right.
Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weight loss. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Fighting a losing battle
2 freaking 16. As in two hundred and sixteen pounds. As in I've gained 10 pounds in the past couple of months.
T-E-N.
This wouldn't be so unfortunate had it not been for the following facts:
-I wrote a weight loss blog for 10 months.
-I have a workout facility at my apartment complex.
-I've been on a weight loss journey since January of 2010.
And, oh yes, our wedding is in approximately 51 days.
Yeah...
When I was a blogger for That's Fit, I had a weekly deadline, feedback from my awesome editor and constantly feared failing not only myself but also the people who read my blog. I've missed that level of accountability. A blog shouldn't be my only reason to lose weight, but I'll be honest - it sure did help!
Now, I realized, I only blog when I get one of those moods where I feel invincible and have all these great plans...only to quickly fall flat. Instead of blogging through the challenges, I've been eating my way through them.
I feel miserable. My clothes that were flattering are starting to look rather uncomfortable and please, let us not forget that I have a w-e-d-d-i-n-g dress to fit into.
The first step is to lay my very own "ground rules."
-Return to weigh-in Wednesday - no matter the good, the bad and possibly the ugly.
-Be better about planning my workouts as well as my meals. No more eating because it feels good. No more going over my calorie budget just because I feel like I deserve it. No more, "I'll start Monday." This starts now.
-Upload pictures, recipes, training progress, etc. along the way.
-At the very least, post a weekly blog update (aside from the weigh-in Wednesday).
-Figure out my short-term and long-term fitness and health goals and also figure out why this hasn't been working and what I can do to make sure these are lifestyle changes.
So, here we go...again. Hopefully you will see me fight my battle to lose weight, go from fat to fit and fabulous and share my tips and tricks along the way.
T-E-N.
This wouldn't be so unfortunate had it not been for the following facts:
-I wrote a weight loss blog for 10 months.
-I have a workout facility at my apartment complex.
-I've been on a weight loss journey since January of 2010.
And, oh yes, our wedding is in approximately 51 days.
Yeah...
When I was a blogger for That's Fit, I had a weekly deadline, feedback from my awesome editor and constantly feared failing not only myself but also the people who read my blog. I've missed that level of accountability. A blog shouldn't be my only reason to lose weight, but I'll be honest - it sure did help!
Now, I realized, I only blog when I get one of those moods where I feel invincible and have all these great plans...only to quickly fall flat. Instead of blogging through the challenges, I've been eating my way through them.
I feel miserable. My clothes that were flattering are starting to look rather uncomfortable and please, let us not forget that I have a w-e-d-d-i-n-g dress to fit into.
The first step is to lay my very own "ground rules."
-Return to weigh-in Wednesday - no matter the good, the bad and possibly the ugly.
-Be better about planning my workouts as well as my meals. No more eating because it feels good. No more going over my calorie budget just because I feel like I deserve it. No more, "I'll start Monday." This starts now.
-Upload pictures, recipes, training progress, etc. along the way.
-At the very least, post a weekly blog update (aside from the weigh-in Wednesday).
-Figure out my short-term and long-term fitness and health goals and also figure out why this hasn't been working and what I can do to make sure these are lifestyle changes.
So, here we go...again. Hopefully you will see me fight my battle to lose weight, go from fat to fit and fabulous and share my tips and tricks along the way.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Makeover May!
Alright. It's May. May 2nd.
That means there are approximately 117 days until our wedding, which also means I have 116 days to become the happy, healthy (and hopefully pretty) bride I hope to be - so I need a plan.
And I need a plan that is measurable, broken up over smaller goal points and manageable for me.
So, I've started with May. What is my plan for May?
Let's break it down even further, what can I commit to for the next four weeks from Monday May 2nd through Sunday May 29th?
Some of these goals might sound odd, but they are things I have been struggling with lately.
1. I will not purchase any of our trigger foods for our apartment. Trigger foods include but are not limited to: break-and-bake cookies, pastries, sweets, candy, take-out pizza, etc. I will be mindful of the foods that I purchase and examine nutrition labels.
2. I will use my Sparkpeople.com tracker to log my fitness minutes, food choices, water, goals, etc.
3. I will run a minimum of two times per week.
4. I will ride the stationary bike once per week.
5. I will participate in the 100-push-up challenge.
6. I will ramp up my beauty routine to make sure my skin, nails, hair, etc. look wonderful not only for the big day, but so that I start to feel pretty and confident in my daily life. Also, I must remember to take my vitamins.
7. I will switch my weigh-in day back to Monday. I feel like I will be more accountable over the weekends if I know my weigh-in is on Monday. I will continue to post weekly weigh-in pictures, and I will resume the pictures next Monday.
8. I will put a positive spin on things. For example, instead of focusing on how sore I feel from working out (or completing a 10k this past Saturday), I will remember that I pushed my body to do something that I didn't think was possible.
9. I WILL GET TO 'ONE'-DERLAND! Bye-bye 2-ville! (aka, in the next four weeks, I WILL get to 199.9 or less. WILL.)
Ready, set, go!
That means there are approximately 117 days until our wedding, which also means I have 116 days to become the happy, healthy (and hopefully pretty) bride I hope to be - so I need a plan.
And I need a plan that is measurable, broken up over smaller goal points and manageable for me.
So, I've started with May. What is my plan for May?
Let's break it down even further, what can I commit to for the next four weeks from Monday May 2nd through Sunday May 29th?
Some of these goals might sound odd, but they are things I have been struggling with lately.
1. I will not purchase any of our trigger foods for our apartment. Trigger foods include but are not limited to: break-and-bake cookies, pastries, sweets, candy, take-out pizza, etc. I will be mindful of the foods that I purchase and examine nutrition labels.
2. I will use my Sparkpeople.com tracker to log my fitness minutes, food choices, water, goals, etc.
3. I will run a minimum of two times per week.
4. I will ride the stationary bike once per week.
5. I will participate in the 100-push-up challenge.
6. I will ramp up my beauty routine to make sure my skin, nails, hair, etc. look wonderful not only for the big day, but so that I start to feel pretty and confident in my daily life. Also, I must remember to take my vitamins.
7. I will switch my weigh-in day back to Monday. I feel like I will be more accountable over the weekends if I know my weigh-in is on Monday. I will continue to post weekly weigh-in pictures, and I will resume the pictures next Monday.
8. I will put a positive spin on things. For example, instead of focusing on how sore I feel from working out (or completing a 10k this past Saturday), I will remember that I pushed my body to do something that I didn't think was possible.
9. I WILL GET TO 'ONE'-DERLAND! Bye-bye 2-ville! (aka, in the next four weeks, I WILL get to 199.9 or less. WILL.)
Ready, set, go!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Week Five: Lots o' Links!
AH! Life gets in the way of the best of plans doesn't it? I missed a couple of updates, but things have been moving slowly...
Fitness/Weight Loss
I am going to the gym - woo hoo! I actually went to a zumba class a week ago and l-o-v-e-d it! I am trying to find a place to take a cheaper class. The gym I went to didn't offer a pass just for classes, which is a bummer because I don't need a whole gym membership since we have a gym in our apartment complex. I do most of my fitness/weight loss updating on my that's fit blog, which can be accessed here:
http://www.thatsfit.com/bloggers/ashley-wisniewski/
Organization
I cleaned out my closet and it was amazing. Our apartment is tiiiiiiiny. Tiny. Small. Really small, but it works for us. Also, Peter once had a customer that said, "to live like no one else, you must live like no one else." We are willing to make sacrifices now so that we can afford a house hopefully in a few years...more on that later. So, since our apartment is tiny, we don't have actual dressers. You can imagine how difficult this is for me, so my closet needed some major help. It looks ten times better and it's easier to find clothes (imagine that...).
Savings
So, yes, we'd like to buy a house. When? Who knows. Considering we don't have the money for a down payment, it's not likely to be anytime in the near future. Sigh. Oh well, we have been working our tails off figuring out how to cut costs. One way has been to use Swagbucks. I LOVE it. I have been using it since October and just redeemed my 'swagbucks' for my 8th $5 amazon giftcard so that means I've made $40 just by surfing the net, answering a few surveys, etc. If you are interested, the link is:
Also, at the suggestion of my fabulous and spending-savvy little sister in my sorority, I opened an INGdirect online savings account which has a higher interest rate. If you are interested in opening an account, let me know! I can send you a referral link and if you use the link to sign-up (plus have an initial deposit of $250 you leave in there for at least 30 days), you can get a bonus $25! It's really a great way to earn higher interest on your savings, and for you to make $25 - for free!
Now, I have three "piles" of savings opened that just need to be funded: 6 months emergency savings fund, a down payment for a house savings fund and an everyday savings fund. I am about $60 behind my savings goals for where I needed to be this week. I have it mapped out how much I need to save each week to meet my goal for the year so I "owe" myself a little bit of money. Though I am behind, I am 8.5% towards my goal so I am closing in on being 10% there! Woo hoo!
Also, I must give a recommendation to go to my little sister's savings blog! Make sure to visit:
http://ahappysaver.com/ for great tips, recommendations, savings tips and coupons!
Education
Not much has happened on the education front. I did send my advisor from grad school an email putting the bug in his ear for a potential recommendation letter. I will work on my resume as well as personal statement during December/January and get that uploaded asap. Also, I need to request my transcripts. I will feel very accomplished when I have finished the application process.
Reading
I am now three books down:
-Dexter in the Dark (Jeff Lindsey)
-Bright Lights, Big Ass (Jen Lancaster)
-Heart of the Matter (Emily Giffin)
I absolutely adore Jen Lancaster. She is HIL-arious. And she reminds me of, well, me. No, seriously. We have the same birthday, love pearls, our signature scent is even the same (J'Adore Dior) AND we are members of the same sorority (Pi Beta Phi). Her first book is Bitter is the New Black. I assure you that you will love her! Visit her website at: http://www.jennsylvania.com/
Another one of my favorite author's is Emily Giffin. I'm thrilled that they are making a movie out of her first book (Something Borrowed). I literally read Heart of the Matter in one day because I needed to know how the story ended. It was simply wonderful. You can read more about the lovely and talented Emily Giffin at her website: http://www.emilygiffin.com/
I'm currently reading the fourth Dexter book and also started a random book that I found at a book sale, Lost and Found.
Speaking of Books...
Yikes. NaNoWriMo came. And went. And all I wrote were approximately 6,000 words. That's ok. Getting started was part one. Now there isn't any pressure and I have another ten months to create characters and a manuscript I can enjoy.
Until next week!
Fitness/Weight Loss
I am going to the gym - woo hoo! I actually went to a zumba class a week ago and l-o-v-e-d it! I am trying to find a place to take a cheaper class. The gym I went to didn't offer a pass just for classes, which is a bummer because I don't need a whole gym membership since we have a gym in our apartment complex. I do most of my fitness/weight loss updating on my that's fit blog, which can be accessed here:
http://www.thatsfit.com/bloggers/ashley-wisniewski/
Organization
I cleaned out my closet and it was amazing. Our apartment is tiiiiiiiny. Tiny. Small. Really small, but it works for us. Also, Peter once had a customer that said, "to live like no one else, you must live like no one else." We are willing to make sacrifices now so that we can afford a house hopefully in a few years...more on that later. So, since our apartment is tiny, we don't have actual dressers. You can imagine how difficult this is for me, so my closet needed some major help. It looks ten times better and it's easier to find clothes (imagine that...).
Savings
So, yes, we'd like to buy a house. When? Who knows. Considering we don't have the money for a down payment, it's not likely to be anytime in the near future. Sigh. Oh well, we have been working our tails off figuring out how to cut costs. One way has been to use Swagbucks. I LOVE it. I have been using it since October and just redeemed my 'swagbucks' for my 8th $5 amazon giftcard so that means I've made $40 just by surfing the net, answering a few surveys, etc. If you are interested, the link is:
Also, at the suggestion of my fabulous and spending-savvy little sister in my sorority, I opened an INGdirect online savings account which has a higher interest rate. If you are interested in opening an account, let me know! I can send you a referral link and if you use the link to sign-up (plus have an initial deposit of $250 you leave in there for at least 30 days), you can get a bonus $25! It's really a great way to earn higher interest on your savings, and for you to make $25 - for free!
Now, I have three "piles" of savings opened that just need to be funded: 6 months emergency savings fund, a down payment for a house savings fund and an everyday savings fund. I am about $60 behind my savings goals for where I needed to be this week. I have it mapped out how much I need to save each week to meet my goal for the year so I "owe" myself a little bit of money. Though I am behind, I am 8.5% towards my goal so I am closing in on being 10% there! Woo hoo!
Also, I must give a recommendation to go to my little sister's savings blog! Make sure to visit:
http://ahappysaver.com/ for great tips, recommendations, savings tips and coupons!
Education
Not much has happened on the education front. I did send my advisor from grad school an email putting the bug in his ear for a potential recommendation letter. I will work on my resume as well as personal statement during December/January and get that uploaded asap. Also, I need to request my transcripts. I will feel very accomplished when I have finished the application process.
Reading
I am now three books down:
-Dexter in the Dark (Jeff Lindsey)
-Bright Lights, Big Ass (Jen Lancaster)
-Heart of the Matter (Emily Giffin)
I absolutely adore Jen Lancaster. She is HIL-arious. And she reminds me of, well, me. No, seriously. We have the same birthday, love pearls, our signature scent is even the same (J'Adore Dior) AND we are members of the same sorority (Pi Beta Phi). Her first book is Bitter is the New Black. I assure you that you will love her! Visit her website at: http://www.jennsylvania.com/
Another one of my favorite author's is Emily Giffin. I'm thrilled that they are making a movie out of her first book (Something Borrowed). I literally read Heart of the Matter in one day because I needed to know how the story ended. It was simply wonderful. You can read more about the lovely and talented Emily Giffin at her website: http://www.emilygiffin.com/
I'm currently reading the fourth Dexter book and also started a random book that I found at a book sale, Lost and Found.
Speaking of Books...
Yikes. NaNoWriMo came. And went. And all I wrote were approximately 6,000 words. That's ok. Getting started was part one. Now there isn't any pressure and I have another ten months to create characters and a manuscript I can enjoy.
Until next week!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Week Two Update for You :)
Well at least in terms of writing headlines/blog titles, I'm creative. Elsewhere, the creativity is about a big fat zero. Week two went a whole lot like week one...this is a trend that must stop in week three!
Fitness/Weight Loss
Next topic. Though, I did work out at least twice and look forward to working out at least twice between now and Monday (although that would count for week three).
Organization
I spent quite a bit of time organizing my office this week. At my previous job, we had a presentation on 'customer service' and how it related to higher education. In the presentation, the presenter had mentioned that our work space should be neat, organized and presentable. I remember the room filling with laughter. I put away files, organized my bookshelf and straightened out my desk drawers. It actually looks and feels like a grown-up office - minus those big, fake flowers sitting on my desk...and the pink picture boards...and the Pi Phi/Virginia Tech memorabilia...but you get the point :)
Savings
I am so proud of myself! I was paid this week and went through and paid the necessary bills. I then took out cash (yes, Mom, cash!) and put into individual envelopes: groceries, gas, spending money.
While I didn't stay perfectly within my range, I was able to put an extra bit of money into savings. I am at 5% towards my savings goal for the year and on a (hopefully) good track!
Education
I met with the graduate admissions counselor today. The biographical portion of my application is complete. Next will be to request transcripts, recommendation letters and to complete a personal essay. While the program I want to do won't have an actual new cohort until 2012, I can apply and hopefully be accepted to the program and take classes towards my concentration. So, if all goes right, I'll be taking classes in the fall of 2011.
Reading
Fail. Big fail. I didn't finish my first book yet, so I'm officially behind. I will finish my Dexter book this weekend and start either the fourth Dexter book or another book. I am waiting on a Jen Lancaster book to arrive; I thought it would have been here by now. Grr.
Book
Fail. Epic fail. I haven't written one flippin' word on that piece. Sigh...
Alright. So, sometimes it takes a bit of time to get started. Maybe I needed to (very) slowly build momentum so that I have a rockin' week three?
Fitness/Weight Loss
Next topic. Though, I did work out at least twice and look forward to working out at least twice between now and Monday (although that would count for week three).
Organization
I spent quite a bit of time organizing my office this week. At my previous job, we had a presentation on 'customer service' and how it related to higher education. In the presentation, the presenter had mentioned that our work space should be neat, organized and presentable. I remember the room filling with laughter. I put away files, organized my bookshelf and straightened out my desk drawers. It actually looks and feels like a grown-up office - minus those big, fake flowers sitting on my desk...and the pink picture boards...and the Pi Phi/Virginia Tech memorabilia...but you get the point :)
Savings
I am so proud of myself! I was paid this week and went through and paid the necessary bills. I then took out cash (yes, Mom, cash!) and put into individual envelopes: groceries, gas, spending money.
While I didn't stay perfectly within my range, I was able to put an extra bit of money into savings. I am at 5% towards my savings goal for the year and on a (hopefully) good track!
Education
I met with the graduate admissions counselor today. The biographical portion of my application is complete. Next will be to request transcripts, recommendation letters and to complete a personal essay. While the program I want to do won't have an actual new cohort until 2012, I can apply and hopefully be accepted to the program and take classes towards my concentration. So, if all goes right, I'll be taking classes in the fall of 2011.
Reading
Fail. Big fail. I didn't finish my first book yet, so I'm officially behind. I will finish my Dexter book this weekend and start either the fourth Dexter book or another book. I am waiting on a Jen Lancaster book to arrive; I thought it would have been here by now. Grr.
Book
Fail. Epic fail. I haven't written one flippin' word on that piece. Sigh...
Alright. So, sometimes it takes a bit of time to get started. Maybe I needed to (very) slowly build momentum so that I have a rockin' week three?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Weekly Update: Numero Uno
Well, my first week of 26-year-old-awesomeness wasn't exactly full of awesome or productivity.
While I have 10 goals, I've organized them based on themes for the purpose of my weekly updates.
Fitness/Weight Loss
I did work out twice this week - even ran 1.5 mi...at one time, woo hoo! I am almost halfway to my 5k distance! However, the scale was not my friend and it reflected a gain, not a loss. Boo.
Organization
In terms of organizing my life, I did start to organize my recipes and my office - yay! Hopefully I'll have most of my recipes organized by the end of this weekend, and I will clean out my expired coupons, cut new ones, etc. I am going to be putting together a lengthy shopping list for healthy foods for my grocery shopping trip on Monday.
Savings
I 'saved' a whole, whopping $5.10 this week bringing my total saved to $80.36. Yay? And honestly, that was only "saved" because of a program through my bank. It's cool because when I make a purchase, they automatically take the leftover-amount-to-equal-100 and deposit it into my savings account. For example, if I make a $4.50 purchase, they round the purchase to $5. They don't 'give' me the 50 cents, but they take it from my checking account and put it into my savings account. I enjoy it. On the bright side, I'm nearly 2% towards my goal. Ha. Oh well, I get paid Monday and through some savvy spending tips, I'm hoping to be 6 to 8% towards my goal by next Friday.
My savvy spending deal of the week came last night when I used three coupons for Wholly Guacamole products. Originally $3.99 and $4.99, the coupons were for $4.00 each product. I also had a coupon for a $1.00 of an air freshner that was on sale for .97 cents. Throw in a bag of tortilla chips and my whole purchase - originally nearly $18 - was purchased for $4.90. Win.
I also went to annualcreditreport.com and pulled up a credit report. Did you know you are allowed three, free credit reports per year - and I don't mean from the "free" credit report website. Annualcreditreport.com is an actually, legit website (from what I was told by a lawyer) and I pulled my report. I've had some, well, we'll just call them setbacks, over the past year - mainly due to the bright idea I had to buy a condo (not a bright idea...) and I am working to repair my credit. I did pay $7.95 to find out what my credit score is and while it's not very shiny and pretty, it's not totally atrocious. Mediocre.
Education
I printed out information for three different graduate programs: a dprof in organizational leadership, an educational doctorate (Ed.d) in administrative leadership and the requirements for an MBA. My first choice would be the dprof doctoral program; however, both the dprof and Ed.d programs may not be taking a fall co-hort. Cue MBA print outs. We'll see, we'll see...I am reliving conversations from a former grad school professor. I remember telling him MANY times that he was crazy and that I was absolutely, positively not getting another degree. I also told my husband we'd never, ever live in Michigan. Well, I am serious about another degree and we lived in Michigan for a year. Clearly I need to stop saying "100% no" to things :)
Reading
I am hoping to finish my first book of the 26 for the year this weekend. I will make a separate blog posting listing the book titles, once I finish book one :) Currently reading: Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay
Book
Oh my oh my am I WAY behind in my NaNoWriMo word count. By today, the 12th day of November, I should be at 20,000 words. Shamefully, I am a measly 5,921 words. And I haven't written since Sunday. And I don't like my plot. And I don't like my characters. Sigh...
And there you have it, the first week down - 51 to go!
While I have 10 goals, I've organized them based on themes for the purpose of my weekly updates.
Fitness/Weight Loss
I did work out twice this week - even ran 1.5 mi...at one time, woo hoo! I am almost halfway to my 5k distance! However, the scale was not my friend and it reflected a gain, not a loss. Boo.
Organization
In terms of organizing my life, I did start to organize my recipes and my office - yay! Hopefully I'll have most of my recipes organized by the end of this weekend, and I will clean out my expired coupons, cut new ones, etc. I am going to be putting together a lengthy shopping list for healthy foods for my grocery shopping trip on Monday.
Savings
I 'saved' a whole, whopping $5.10 this week bringing my total saved to $80.36. Yay? And honestly, that was only "saved" because of a program through my bank. It's cool because when I make a purchase, they automatically take the leftover-amount-to-equal-100 and deposit it into my savings account. For example, if I make a $4.50 purchase, they round the purchase to $5. They don't 'give' me the 50 cents, but they take it from my checking account and put it into my savings account. I enjoy it. On the bright side, I'm nearly 2% towards my goal. Ha. Oh well, I get paid Monday and through some savvy spending tips, I'm hoping to be 6 to 8% towards my goal by next Friday.
My savvy spending deal of the week came last night when I used three coupons for Wholly Guacamole products. Originally $3.99 and $4.99, the coupons were for $4.00 each product. I also had a coupon for a $1.00 of an air freshner that was on sale for .97 cents. Throw in a bag of tortilla chips and my whole purchase - originally nearly $18 - was purchased for $4.90. Win.
I also went to annualcreditreport.com and pulled up a credit report. Did you know you are allowed three, free credit reports per year - and I don't mean from the "free" credit report website. Annualcreditreport.com is an actually, legit website (from what I was told by a lawyer) and I pulled my report. I've had some, well, we'll just call them setbacks, over the past year - mainly due to the bright idea I had to buy a condo (not a bright idea...) and I am working to repair my credit. I did pay $7.95 to find out what my credit score is and while it's not very shiny and pretty, it's not totally atrocious. Mediocre.
Education
I printed out information for three different graduate programs: a dprof in organizational leadership, an educational doctorate (Ed.d) in administrative leadership and the requirements for an MBA. My first choice would be the dprof doctoral program; however, both the dprof and Ed.d programs may not be taking a fall co-hort. Cue MBA print outs. We'll see, we'll see...I am reliving conversations from a former grad school professor. I remember telling him MANY times that he was crazy and that I was absolutely, positively not getting another degree. I also told my husband we'd never, ever live in Michigan. Well, I am serious about another degree and we lived in Michigan for a year. Clearly I need to stop saying "100% no" to things :)
Reading
I am hoping to finish my first book of the 26 for the year this weekend. I will make a separate blog posting listing the book titles, once I finish book one :) Currently reading: Dexter in the Dark by Jeff Lindsay
Book
Oh my oh my am I WAY behind in my NaNoWriMo word count. By today, the 12th day of November, I should be at 20,000 words. Shamefully, I am a measly 5,921 words. And I haven't written since Sunday. And I don't like my plot. And I don't like my characters. Sigh...
And there you have it, the first week down - 51 to go!
Monday, July 20, 2009
today's a great day to make a fresh start!
so, i knew it before i stepped on the scale. partially because i hadn't had a good week and partially because i got on the scale last night to prepare me for what number i might see this morning. and i was right - i had gained this week. when you are trying to lose weight, gaining weight isn't really the result you want to see...
BUT, there's always a but, i think it gave me an added motivational boost. when i went to my weight watchers online tracker and recorded my weight, it told me this: today’s a great day to make a fresh start. how very, very true!
i have a new sense of determination and i'm excited about my weight loss again. i woke up this morning - at 5:45 - and went outside for a run/walk. and by run, i mean i ran for 4 minutes and 24 seconds, and then walked the rest but whatever - i still did it! and i plan on going and building on that a little bit each time.
also...although i did gain a bit the rest of the week, i had a mini-accomplishment earlier in the week: the dress actually went ON. in may, when i tried on the dress at my parents' place with my mom's assistance, the bridesmaids dress wouldn't even actually FIT on my body. last sunday i was able to put it on! now, zipping it is another story but that's not the point. the wedding is still ten weeks away so i have plenty of time to make it fit comfortably :) yay yay yay!
i have a long way to go, but i'll get there. slowly.
so now it's time to make some new goals:
-go running/walking at least twice more this week, each time adding a bit more to my time
-stay strict to my weight watchers points and be very diligent about tracking
mkay, i think that's enough rambling for one morning.
*love and hugs*
BUT, there's always a but, i think it gave me an added motivational boost. when i went to my weight watchers online tracker and recorded my weight, it told me this: today’s a great day to make a fresh start. how very, very true!
i have a new sense of determination and i'm excited about my weight loss again. i woke up this morning - at 5:45 - and went outside for a run/walk. and by run, i mean i ran for 4 minutes and 24 seconds, and then walked the rest but whatever - i still did it! and i plan on going and building on that a little bit each time.
also...although i did gain a bit the rest of the week, i had a mini-accomplishment earlier in the week: the dress actually went ON. in may, when i tried on the dress at my parents' place with my mom's assistance, the bridesmaids dress wouldn't even actually FIT on my body. last sunday i was able to put it on! now, zipping it is another story but that's not the point. the wedding is still ten weeks away so i have plenty of time to make it fit comfortably :) yay yay yay!
i have a long way to go, but i'll get there. slowly.
so now it's time to make some new goals:
-go running/walking at least twice more this week, each time adding a bit more to my time
-stay strict to my weight watchers points and be very diligent about tracking
mkay, i think that's enough rambling for one morning.
*love and hugs*
Monday, May 11, 2009
week "one" reporting :)
mkay i say "week one" reporting because while it's my first week of "reporting" i've actually been pseudo-trying for about three weeks prior to this week. in those three weeks, i managed to lose 4.8 pounds, but then ended up gaining 5.4 pounds meaning i was up .6 pounds from where i started!
BUT...
i lost 10.4 pounds last week!!!! and yes, i know: this is not healthy or normal; however, it is not uncommon to see a substantial weight loss your first week of hardcore dieting - especially when limiting your carb intake. and yes, i also know that i need to be very diligent this week to a. keep off that 10 pounds and to b. lose another couple of pounds.
so, that means my "total" weight loss since starting is actually 9.8 pounds!
*update on goals from last week*
-stick with south beach phase one: sorta. i ended up having some things that are phase one allowed, but still healthy (aka strawberries, carrots, weight watchers ice cream bars)
-keep track of my weight watchers points: i kept track of every single thing i ate last week using my online weight watchers point tracker
-do not exceed my weekly points total: i still had approx eight weekly points left over, plus the nine activity points i earned!
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives: this one will always be a toughy, but i every time i wanted to give in, i stayed strong!
-work out twice: i went to the gym tuesday and wednesday!
goals for monday, may 11th through sunday may 17th:
-i lost a weight watchers point for going down in weight, so i need to be diligent this week to stay within my daily and weekly points totals.
-work out three times - i am going to a wedding this weekend so any extra workouts will be moer than helpful!
-to be mindful of what i am eating and drinking at the wedding as to not derail my weight loss efforts
-i already drink roughly 75 ounces of water a day, but i am aiming for 125 ounces a day this week!
again, thank you so much for all the positive feedback from last week's blogs; that encouragement was awesome and it definitely is a HUGE help on my journey!!!
*love and hugs*
BUT...
i lost 10.4 pounds last week!!!! and yes, i know: this is not healthy or normal; however, it is not uncommon to see a substantial weight loss your first week of hardcore dieting - especially when limiting your carb intake. and yes, i also know that i need to be very diligent this week to a. keep off that 10 pounds and to b. lose another couple of pounds.
so, that means my "total" weight loss since starting is actually 9.8 pounds!
*update on goals from last week*
-stick with south beach phase one: sorta. i ended up having some things that are phase one allowed, but still healthy (aka strawberries, carrots, weight watchers ice cream bars)
-keep track of my weight watchers points: i kept track of every single thing i ate last week using my online weight watchers point tracker
-do not exceed my weekly points total: i still had approx eight weekly points left over, plus the nine activity points i earned!
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives: this one will always be a toughy, but i every time i wanted to give in, i stayed strong!
-work out twice: i went to the gym tuesday and wednesday!
goals for monday, may 11th through sunday may 17th:
-i lost a weight watchers point for going down in weight, so i need to be diligent this week to stay within my daily and weekly points totals.
-work out three times - i am going to a wedding this weekend so any extra workouts will be moer than helpful!
-to be mindful of what i am eating and drinking at the wedding as to not derail my weight loss efforts
-i already drink roughly 75 ounces of water a day, but i am aiming for 125 ounces a day this week!
again, thank you so much for all the positive feedback from last week's blogs; that encouragement was awesome and it definitely is a HUGE help on my journey!!!
*love and hugs*
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
the no-no list...
so, as a follow-up to my just posted, 'attack of the bridesmaid's dress...' i have created a no-no list, aka the things that i am going to try my hardest to avoid:
1. regular soda
2. actually, diet soda as well (sigh, i love you coke zero...i will miss you the most)
3. french fries (hi, my name is ashley and i am a french fry addict.)
4. tortilla chips...and the rest of the chip world
5. fried foods in general, including, but not limited to:
a. mozzarella sticks
b. fried chicken
c. cheesecake bites (sooooooo good! try them so i can live vicariously through you)
d. fried shrimp (i know, we just met and you are so good, but sooooo bad for me!)
6. sweet tea (and since i'm in the north now -ha- this won't be as hard as previously thought)
7. ice cream
8. rita's italian ice (thankfully, they have sugar-free when i'm ready to face temptation again)
9. any type of yummy, creamy dips: spinach, buffalo blue cheese, etc.
10. white bread
11. pina coladas (this one makes me cry a little inside)
12. any frozen yummy concoction, with or without alcohol
13. alcohol (temporarily. i will miss you, coconut rum. we'll meet again soon, have no fear.)
14. baked, yummy goodness. i.e. muffins, cookies, cakes, etc.
15. excessive usage of ranch dressing
16. restaurant pizza (trust, this is just a temporary seperation)
17. garlic butter sauce from said restaurant pizza chains
18. chicken philly sandwiches
19. juice and drinks that aren't sugar-free or diet
20. croutons
21. garlic bread
22. restaurant foods that i can't find the nutritional info on to calculate points
23. restaurant foods that are above a healthy points value
this list shall be updated from time to time...
1. regular soda
2. actually, diet soda as well (sigh, i love you coke zero...i will miss you the most)
3. french fries (hi, my name is ashley and i am a french fry addict.)
4. tortilla chips...and the rest of the chip world
5. fried foods in general, including, but not limited to:
a. mozzarella sticks
b. fried chicken
c. cheesecake bites (sooooooo good! try them so i can live vicariously through you)
d. fried shrimp (i know, we just met and you are so good, but sooooo bad for me!)
6. sweet tea (and since i'm in the north now -ha- this won't be as hard as previously thought)
7. ice cream
8. rita's italian ice (thankfully, they have sugar-free when i'm ready to face temptation again)
9. any type of yummy, creamy dips: spinach, buffalo blue cheese, etc.
10. white bread
11. pina coladas (this one makes me cry a little inside)
12. any frozen yummy concoction, with or without alcohol
13. alcohol (temporarily. i will miss you, coconut rum. we'll meet again soon, have no fear.)
14. baked, yummy goodness. i.e. muffins, cookies, cakes, etc.
15. excessive usage of ranch dressing
16. restaurant pizza (trust, this is just a temporary seperation)
17. garlic butter sauce from said restaurant pizza chains
18. chicken philly sandwiches
19. juice and drinks that aren't sugar-free or diet
20. croutons
21. garlic bread
22. restaurant foods that i can't find the nutritional info on to calculate points
23. restaurant foods that are above a healthy points value
this list shall be updated from time to time...
attack of the bridesmaid's dress...
so, i'm in my dear friend christa's wedding in september. i ordered my dress february 17th with the hope of losing a few pounds between then and when it arrived.
well, it arrived. and according to my mother (as i had to dress shipped to her house knowing that i was moving but not knowing where to at the time) it is cut kinda small. awesome.
as anyone reading this blog and knows me knows, i have always been battling my weight. as you as four i remember having a weight problem and it has continued to be a constant battle. i think the first entry i made in this blog was about my weight loss goals, which, by the way, have continued to fail.
but that's the great thing about trying - you keep trying and eventually, hopefully, you will get it right. peter and i started south beach yesterday. i'm using that as a way to hopefully jump start myself, even if i don't last the whole two-week of strictness. at the same time, i'm still using my weight watchers tracker. so, really i'm doing a low-carb weight watchers system - which could be perfect for me. thus, after the strict (no carb, no nothing but veggies and protein) part, i'll transition easily into adding carbs and things back into my diet - but staying within my points.
i love south beach because the you can see results in two weeks. when i lost my previous 40 pounds plus some, i was doing the south beach diet. it's tough, but it works. this time, using the weight watchers system, i'll hopefully be able to actually keep it off longer than a year.
i am also going to try and be better about writing in my blog about this. i think it will be helpful and show some accountability on my part, as well as be a reminder of the struggle and battle when a. i reach my goal and start slipping and b. when i need some encouragement along the way!
plus, i'm tired of sounding like a broken record. i LOVED getting new clothes and outfits when i was smaller; i'm soooooooooo looking forward to that again!
when i first started this blog, i had small goals for each week...well, i was supposed to! so that being said, my goals from now until sunday, may 10th:
-stick with south beach phase one
-keep track of my weight watchers points
-do not exceed my weekly points total
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives
-work out twice
oh, by the way, the wedding is september 26...which is 21 weeks and four days away!
*love and hugs*
well, it arrived. and according to my mother (as i had to dress shipped to her house knowing that i was moving but not knowing where to at the time) it is cut kinda small. awesome.
as anyone reading this blog and knows me knows, i have always been battling my weight. as you as four i remember having a weight problem and it has continued to be a constant battle. i think the first entry i made in this blog was about my weight loss goals, which, by the way, have continued to fail.
but that's the great thing about trying - you keep trying and eventually, hopefully, you will get it right. peter and i started south beach yesterday. i'm using that as a way to hopefully jump start myself, even if i don't last the whole two-week of strictness. at the same time, i'm still using my weight watchers tracker. so, really i'm doing a low-carb weight watchers system - which could be perfect for me. thus, after the strict (no carb, no nothing but veggies and protein) part, i'll transition easily into adding carbs and things back into my diet - but staying within my points.
i love south beach because the you can see results in two weeks. when i lost my previous 40 pounds plus some, i was doing the south beach diet. it's tough, but it works. this time, using the weight watchers system, i'll hopefully be able to actually keep it off longer than a year.
i am also going to try and be better about writing in my blog about this. i think it will be helpful and show some accountability on my part, as well as be a reminder of the struggle and battle when a. i reach my goal and start slipping and b. when i need some encouragement along the way!
plus, i'm tired of sounding like a broken record. i LOVED getting new clothes and outfits when i was smaller; i'm soooooooooo looking forward to that again!
when i first started this blog, i had small goals for each week...well, i was supposed to! so that being said, my goals from now until sunday, may 10th:
-stick with south beach phase one
-keep track of my weight watchers points
-do not exceed my weekly points total
-to look towards the positives and not dwell on the negatives
-work out twice
oh, by the way, the wedding is september 26...which is 21 weeks and four days away!
*love and hugs*
Saturday, February 7, 2009
you marry a role and you give up your soul 'til you breakdown...
perhaps, "starting over, yet again" would probably be a better title for this post. i forgot how hard the weight loss journey can be...and things have not been going well so far BUT i feel as though things are about to get better, friends!
last week, i talked to my doctor and she wants to pull me off one of my medications (i say 'one' like i take many meds; i take two: an anti-baby pill and a happy pill). she and i decided that it would be best for me to start going off of my anti-depressant (aka happy pill). i've been on it since about june or july of last year...and it's caused a 40 pound weight gain in six months.
because of the weight gain, i think that the medication has had a negative impact on my mental well-being and happiness. i was doing a little research online and found some interesting things about celexa (the medication i was taking):
*love and hugs*
p.s. name that song and/or band and you win bonus points in my cool book :p
last week, i talked to my doctor and she wants to pull me off one of my medications (i say 'one' like i take many meds; i take two: an anti-baby pill and a happy pill). she and i decided that it would be best for me to start going off of my anti-depressant (aka happy pill). i've been on it since about june or july of last year...and it's caused a 40 pound weight gain in six months.
because of the weight gain, i think that the medication has had a negative impact on my mental well-being and happiness. i was doing a little research online and found some interesting things about celexa (the medication i was taking):
If you're experiencing extreme weight gain while taking celexa, you're not alone. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of celexa. And sometimes the weight gain becomes extreme.
The extreme celexa weight gain can most likely be attributed to two causes:
1. Celexa causes strong food cravings in some people who take it.
2. There's a very good chance that celexa has lowered your resting metabolic rate.
*love and hugs*
p.s. name that song and/or band and you win bonus points in my cool book :p
Thursday, January 22, 2009
weight loss update numbero uno
well, i failed. at least i can be honest.
i was very sporadic with my food journaling, and i only made it to the gym once, not twice. i ended up not being as healthy as i had hoped and the first week on my journey was not one of motivation as i had hoped, but one of complacency which i am desperately trying to avoid.
so, there's my update.
HOWEVER...(this is me, you know there's always a 'but' or next phase)
i did at least attempt journaling, i made it to the gym once and i tried to make better choices on more than once occasion which is a step in the right direction.
for the upcoming week, i'm raising the bar. from january 22-january 29, i commit to:
-keeping my food journal and tracking my weight watchers points
-more positive self-talk aka instead of calling myself fat, focus on the healthy and good parts of my body and fitness
-go to bed and not fall asleep on the couch and disrupt my sleep patter; poor sleep patterns can in turn have a negative impact on weight loss and energy
-do the bally 3-day a week fitness schedule:
i will be more successful than week one!
also, random side note ~ thank you so much to everyone who takes time to read this silly blog o' mine as well as the beautiful, motivating and ridiculously kind comments and messages regarding my 'painful truth' blog. it's so wonderful knowing i have so many awesome people behind me :) thank you!
*love and hugs*
i was very sporadic with my food journaling, and i only made it to the gym once, not twice. i ended up not being as healthy as i had hoped and the first week on my journey was not one of motivation as i had hoped, but one of complacency which i am desperately trying to avoid.
so, there's my update.
HOWEVER...(this is me, you know there's always a 'but' or next phase)
i did at least attempt journaling, i made it to the gym once and i tried to make better choices on more than once occasion which is a step in the right direction.
for the upcoming week, i'm raising the bar. from january 22-january 29, i commit to:
-keeping my food journal and tracking my weight watchers points
-more positive self-talk aka instead of calling myself fat, focus on the healthy and good parts of my body and fitness
-go to bed and not fall asleep on the couch and disrupt my sleep patter; poor sleep patterns can in turn have a negative impact on weight loss and energy
-do the bally 3-day a week fitness schedule:
- 5-10 minute warm-up
- 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity
- 5-10 minute cool-down
- 10 minutes stretching
- strength training: leg extension, leg curl, chest press, shoulder press, seated row, bicep curl, tricep extensions and crunches
i will be more successful than week one!
also, random side note ~ thank you so much to everyone who takes time to read this silly blog o' mine as well as the beautiful, motivating and ridiculously kind comments and messages regarding my 'painful truth' blog. it's so wonderful knowing i have so many awesome people behind me :) thank you!
*love and hugs*
Thursday, January 15, 2009
painful truth
i have 42 weeks until my 25th birthday. this is significant to me for one major reason: i told myself awhile back that by the time i reach my 25th birthday i wanted to be at my weight and body goals.
long story short, i've struggled with my weight my entire life. i remember in kindergarten the little kids calling me "miss piggy." my weight continued to balloon my entire life until graduate school when i went on the south beach diet and lost a total of 75 pounds. i was clearly ecstatic! i was wearing a size small shirt and size ten jeans. but alas, fast forward to years and i've gained back 56 of those pounds and am feeling miserable about my current weight.
thus, i have decided to recommit myself to my goal. while i had lost 75 pounds then, i still had a few more to go to be at my ultimate weight. i just counted and i have 42 weeks to the day until my 25th birthday. each thursday i will set a new goal for myself and comment on the goal of the following week.
overall goals:
-lose 71 pounds by november 5, 2009
-have a positive self-image of my body
-create lasting diet changes (and by diet i mean the generic definition of diet, not being on a diet)
-be in a regular exercise habit
goals for week one:
-between now (jan. 15) and next week (jan. 22) recognize what my triggers are in terms of making unhealthy food choices
-keep a food journal
-go to the gym at least two times
now, why am i writing this in a blog? well, it's been said that if you write down your goals that you are more likely to achieve them. also, i know that a few people read this silly little blog o' mine and perhaps that will lead to added motivation. last, it will serve as a reminder for me to help me keep on task and a way to journal my progress.
*love and hugs*
long story short, i've struggled with my weight my entire life. i remember in kindergarten the little kids calling me "miss piggy." my weight continued to balloon my entire life until graduate school when i went on the south beach diet and lost a total of 75 pounds. i was clearly ecstatic! i was wearing a size small shirt and size ten jeans. but alas, fast forward to years and i've gained back 56 of those pounds and am feeling miserable about my current weight.
thus, i have decided to recommit myself to my goal. while i had lost 75 pounds then, i still had a few more to go to be at my ultimate weight. i just counted and i have 42 weeks to the day until my 25th birthday. each thursday i will set a new goal for myself and comment on the goal of the following week.
overall goals:
-lose 71 pounds by november 5, 2009
-have a positive self-image of my body
-create lasting diet changes (and by diet i mean the generic definition of diet, not being on a diet)
-be in a regular exercise habit
goals for week one:
-between now (jan. 15) and next week (jan. 22) recognize what my triggers are in terms of making unhealthy food choices
-keep a food journal
-go to the gym at least two times
now, why am i writing this in a blog? well, it's been said that if you write down your goals that you are more likely to achieve them. also, i know that a few people read this silly little blog o' mine and perhaps that will lead to added motivation. last, it will serve as a reminder for me to help me keep on task and a way to journal my progress.
*love and hugs*
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