So, I went back to work. The week of August 22, I worked 10-12 hours each day and wasn't sleeping that well. I also brought stuff home to do. I was so busy that I really didn't have time to be hungry. I ate my healthy lunches and snacks. Sometimes the snacks were late, due to the extreme busyness that occurs when you are trying to set up a new classroom in a new grade level.
That Thursday, we had Famous Dave's for lunch. MajorYum, but not the best for a dieter. I had two ribs and a chicken thigh without the skin. I had a little coleslaw and passed on the corn muffin. Earlier that week they served breakfast which I skipped, because I ate at home. Then that afternoon there was surprise in cafeteria. The surprise was candy. I took six Hershey kisses and a couple of mini Three Musketeers bars, but I haven't eaten them yet. I didn't really want them.
I lost weight last week and this week! However, according to Weight Watcher's, I am losing weight too fast. I have lost a grand total of 15.8 lbs since the beginning of July! I have lost every week, too. It is surprising to me that this has happened.
I have noticed that when I am working, I am not as hungry. This is probably because I am busy. When I am home I am hungrier, so it is harder to stay on track. I try not to keep bad stuff in the house. Even the good stuff can be bad if you eat too much of it. I did finish a box of Archer Farmers eight grain crackers the other day when I was particularly hungry. They weren't chips, so I guess if I had to eat something that was better than what I could be eating.
So look for my posts every other week.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
G-d only gives you as much as you can handle
First of all let me explain something about teachers (or at least elementary school teachers). We have four days of prep time to unpack an entire room and get all of the planning and copying done. Therefore, many teachers go in the week before we have to report back to start getting things ready. So yesterday, August 8, I went to my school to bring some stuff back and to move furniture. I brought one of my sons along to help carry stuff and move stuff only to find out that I had no desks in my new classroom. Luckily, my desk and filing cabinet were exactly where I wanted them and those are the heaviest things (minus some other boxes) to move. However, I was disappointed that I could not get more done. Having a kid with me also meant that I could not stay that long. I thought to myself, "No problem I'll come back tomorrow and spend a day getting things ready." I made plans with another teacher about when to come, etc. Then I checked my work email. I found out two things. I would not have access to my classroom on Tuesday. Also, when I went for the mandatory training on Wednesday and Thursday, we would have to leave at 2. So I started to panic and become very anxious. I tried different things to distract myself. They worked. I did not stuff my face! I went to water aerobics which helped me calm down. Yay!
This leads me to the title of this week's blog post. I am trying and trying to tell myself that I do not have to go crazy and eat everything to feel better about school starting. I have lost a grand total of 8lbs. That is two lbs. away from 10. I have a long way to go, but each small increment is worth a lot to me.
There is one thing that bothers me, still. How am I going to fit exercising in to the mix? That was my problem before. I know that exercising has to be an appointment like any other appointments I might have. I want to take another class, but they may all be too late for me. I have to be asleep by 9. In order to get up at 5 and get to work on time or early. I need to work on the time I leave work and be more organized I guess. I honestly have not figured this one out yet and will take any and all opinions on this topic.
My hours, technically, are 7:15-2:45 so I should have time to exercise, but in reality I do not leave when my time is up. The time with no students is not enough for anyone to prepare for the next day, grade papers, enter grades, make copies and do whatever else needs to be done. So therein is the quandary. I am going to try to be at work at 7:00, because the students come at 7:30 for breakfast. Again, 15 minutes is not enough time to do very much. I already get up at 5:00. I can not get up any earlier. Also, I am often exhausted when I get home.
I have explored several options so far. Joining a pool is one of them. That is expensive and it is not available until 5:30. I have been thinking about rejoining my gym (Curves). It is a 30 minute circuit and optimally you come three days a week. I was one of the original 100 members when the club opened originally and that was the longest gym membership I have ever maintained. Once again cost is a factor there. I would like to walk. I like walking. I don't like the blisters I got from my stupid Propet shoes, but I like walking. You can do it with other people or alone. I have a treadmill that I can use already for when the weather is bad. So really there is no cost involved except for the shoes. I have already ordered new shoes to replace the other ones and they are on the way.
Walking is not going to be the way for me. My treadmill is toast and walking is too painful to want to do on a continuous basis. I'm going to have to keep swimming until the pools close for the season and then join a nearby pool. It's too bad the Y is gone from my area.
My weekly progress was a little surprising, but in a good way. I lost three pounds this week and Weight Watchers warned me that I am losing weight too fast. It was not my intention to lose three pounds. I can not tell you how I did it, but being busy and still making good choices helps. So my grand total is 11 pounds! Whoot!
This leads me to the title of this week's blog post. I am trying and trying to tell myself that I do not have to go crazy and eat everything to feel better about school starting. I have lost a grand total of 8lbs. That is two lbs. away from 10. I have a long way to go, but each small increment is worth a lot to me.
There is one thing that bothers me, still. How am I going to fit exercising in to the mix? That was my problem before. I know that exercising has to be an appointment like any other appointments I might have. I want to take another class, but they may all be too late for me. I have to be asleep by 9. In order to get up at 5 and get to work on time or early. I need to work on the time I leave work and be more organized I guess. I honestly have not figured this one out yet and will take any and all opinions on this topic.
My hours, technically, are 7:15-2:45 so I should have time to exercise, but in reality I do not leave when my time is up. The time with no students is not enough for anyone to prepare for the next day, grade papers, enter grades, make copies and do whatever else needs to be done. So therein is the quandary. I am going to try to be at work at 7:00, because the students come at 7:30 for breakfast. Again, 15 minutes is not enough time to do very much. I already get up at 5:00. I can not get up any earlier. Also, I am often exhausted when I get home.
I have explored several options so far. Joining a pool is one of them. That is expensive and it is not available until 5:30. I have been thinking about rejoining my gym (Curves). It is a 30 minute circuit and optimally you come three days a week. I was one of the original 100 members when the club opened originally and that was the longest gym membership I have ever maintained. Once again cost is a factor there. I would like to walk. I like walking. I don't like the blisters I got from my stupid Propet shoes, but I like walking. You can do it with other people or alone. I have a treadmill that I can use already for when the weather is bad. So really there is no cost involved except for the shoes. I have already ordered new shoes to replace the other ones and they are on the way.
Walking is not going to be the way for me. My treadmill is toast and walking is too painful to want to do on a continuous basis. I'm going to have to keep swimming until the pools close for the season and then join a nearby pool. It's too bad the Y is gone from my area.
My weekly progress was a little surprising, but in a good way. I lost three pounds this week and Weight Watchers warned me that I am losing weight too fast. It was not my intention to lose three pounds. I can not tell you how I did it, but being busy and still making good choices helps. So my grand total is 11 pounds! Whoot!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
This is only a test
This week I encountered some challenges. I went to three days of training where lunch would be served. I had no idea what I was going to have. However, when the time came, I was able to make healthy choices. On the first day there was a choice of sandwiches or salads. I had a salad with water and gave the cookie away. I had also brought some tomatoes, fruit and a crunchy sweet snack as well as some sugar free hard candy. When we got back to the classroom, after lunch, there was candy on the table. I wanted the candy, but at the same time I didn't want it and I didn't eat it. The next day we had the same lunch choices, but this time I chose the sandwich. It was a grilled veggie sandwich which I ate open faced. There was also pasta salad, fruit, chips and a cookie. This time I gave away the chips and threw out the cookie. I ate the pasta salad and the fruit. I also threw away the top of the sandwich. Again, I had brought healthy snacks with me. On the third day, we had a hot lunch served buffet style. At the beginning of the line was rice. I skipped the rice and went right to the green beans. I filled half my plate with green beans, a large part of the other half with salad and then put some chicken with vegetables in the remaining part of the plate. There was cake for desert, but I went right for the fruit and filled a cake plate with fruit. Again, I had my snacks. I was feeling deprived so I ate my chocolate teddy grahams which were packed in a small container to make it appear as if there were more than 24. (I had also run out of small ziploc bags, so...) I like teddy grahams, because they are small and you can eat them slowly one at a time if you want. Also, there are 24 in a serving. They taste good too.
I consider those three days to be a test of things to come. There was chocolate candy on the table every afternoon and I didn't eat any of it. I fear going back to work. Not because, I don't want to go back to work and not because I don't want to teach a new grade. I am nervous about that, but I know I can do it. What I am most nervous about when going back to work is the food. There isn't a ton of food at work, but people bring things in and put them in the teacher's lounge. Sometimes, we have lunch provided for us. Again, I will not know what it is. It could be sandwiches. It could be pizza. It could be Famous Dave's. (Our principal loves to get us Famous Dave's) So, I need to still make healthy choices and resist temptation.
The other "problem" is that going back to work is very STRESSFUL! It is the nature of teaching. The beginning and the end of the year are crazy. This is all before the kids come and that adds another element to the mix, depending on the students you have. Last year's class was difficult behavior-wise. I loved all of them, but a lot of the time they drove me crazy. Some of them more than others. For some, that would drive you to drink, but it drives me right to the Ben & Jerry's pints. (Has anyone seen the quarts? Double yikes!)
So now you understand my fear, and the testing I received this week, I passed with flying colors. The situation is different this week, so I hope that I don't fall under the wagon. There's falling off the wagon, which is easier to get back on, but under the wagon...I don't know.
Additionally, I had no water aerobics on Monday due to the weather (outdoor pool). Then on Wednesday, I was tired and it was drizzling. I decided to go for a walk. I put on brand new walking shoes which felt great when I put them on. Walking is great exercise, but there is a reason why I prefer water exercise. That reason is arthritis in my back. I tried to walk through the pain. This time I encountered a different problem and different pain. The shoes which has been comfortable initially, were hurting my toes and my bunion. I went as far as I could (about 10 minutes) and had to come back, because I was not "feeling the love" from my new shoes. Now, I have blisters on my little toes and under my bunion. My bunion doesn't hurt and the blister doesn't hurt as long as you don't touch it. I hope FootSmart will take the shoes back. I am not happy with them at all. (The shoes, not FootSmart.)
To make up for the lack of exercise, I went swimming on Friday and swam/walked for 40 minutes. I am still feeling the effects of that.
I did a preliminary weighing on Friday morning and was happy with the results, but I will post the real results tomorrow when I do my weekly weigh in.
Next week's post is probably going to be about exercising.
I lost 1.2 lbs this week despite not having water aerobics! It really is all about the choices you make.
My son (who I may have mentioned is overweight) wants to go out for breakfast. The problem with that is most places you go serve too much food. He wanted to go to IHOP. I can't imagine eating at IHOP now. It is just not a good choice for me. Then he asked me about Old Country Buffet which may actually be worse than IHOP. A buffet is very hard for someone who has food issues like me. Then he asked if we could order Chinese food. Once again I vetoed that idea. Chinese food is not great for me either. I am trying so hard to be good and want my son to be good also. My other son may be a lost cause, because he still likes only the kid food. He is not overweight, yet. I hope he never become overweight, because he would really have to examine his food choices and he would probably starve, because he doesn't seem to like anything healthy with the exception of grapes, tomatoes, corn and peas and (oh yeah) american cheese (is that really cheese?)
I consider those three days to be a test of things to come. There was chocolate candy on the table every afternoon and I didn't eat any of it. I fear going back to work. Not because, I don't want to go back to work and not because I don't want to teach a new grade. I am nervous about that, but I know I can do it. What I am most nervous about when going back to work is the food. There isn't a ton of food at work, but people bring things in and put them in the teacher's lounge. Sometimes, we have lunch provided for us. Again, I will not know what it is. It could be sandwiches. It could be pizza. It could be Famous Dave's. (Our principal loves to get us Famous Dave's) So, I need to still make healthy choices and resist temptation.
The other "problem" is that going back to work is very STRESSFUL! It is the nature of teaching. The beginning and the end of the year are crazy. This is all before the kids come and that adds another element to the mix, depending on the students you have. Last year's class was difficult behavior-wise. I loved all of them, but a lot of the time they drove me crazy. Some of them more than others. For some, that would drive you to drink, but it drives me right to the Ben & Jerry's pints. (Has anyone seen the quarts? Double yikes!)
So now you understand my fear, and the testing I received this week, I passed with flying colors. The situation is different this week, so I hope that I don't fall under the wagon. There's falling off the wagon, which is easier to get back on, but under the wagon...I don't know.
Additionally, I had no water aerobics on Monday due to the weather (outdoor pool). Then on Wednesday, I was tired and it was drizzling. I decided to go for a walk. I put on brand new walking shoes which felt great when I put them on. Walking is great exercise, but there is a reason why I prefer water exercise. That reason is arthritis in my back. I tried to walk through the pain. This time I encountered a different problem and different pain. The shoes which has been comfortable initially, were hurting my toes and my bunion. I went as far as I could (about 10 minutes) and had to come back, because I was not "feeling the love" from my new shoes. Now, I have blisters on my little toes and under my bunion. My bunion doesn't hurt and the blister doesn't hurt as long as you don't touch it. I hope FootSmart will take the shoes back. I am not happy with them at all. (The shoes, not FootSmart.)
To make up for the lack of exercise, I went swimming on Friday and swam/walked for 40 minutes. I am still feeling the effects of that.
I did a preliminary weighing on Friday morning and was happy with the results, but I will post the real results tomorrow when I do my weekly weigh in.
Next week's post is probably going to be about exercising.
I lost 1.2 lbs this week despite not having water aerobics! It really is all about the choices you make.
My son (who I may have mentioned is overweight) wants to go out for breakfast. The problem with that is most places you go serve too much food. He wanted to go to IHOP. I can't imagine eating at IHOP now. It is just not a good choice for me. Then he asked me about Old Country Buffet which may actually be worse than IHOP. A buffet is very hard for someone who has food issues like me. Then he asked if we could order Chinese food. Once again I vetoed that idea. Chinese food is not great for me either. I am trying so hard to be good and want my son to be good also. My other son may be a lost cause, because he still likes only the kid food. He is not overweight, yet. I hope he never become overweight, because he would really have to examine his food choices and he would probably starve, because he doesn't seem to like anything healthy with the exception of grapes, tomatoes, corn and peas and (oh yeah) american cheese (is that really cheese?)
Monday, August 1, 2011
Food is Not The Answer
Recently, I have found out some information about someone in my family that is really bad and I turned to my friend food. The difference was this time I stopped myself before I ate too much. I did eat too much, but not as much as I would have in the past. I also noticed that eating the food didn't help. The only thing that helped is talking to family members about it. Although, I am not past this situation, I am trying my best not to use food as a comfort.
Food is supposed to be our fuel. The nutrients in food is what keeps us alive and healthy. All animals and plants eat in their own way. Sometimes we eat too much out of habit or for a number of other reasons. I am an emotional eater. That is how I came to weigh as much as I do. Sometimes life gets hard and eating is an easy answer. Although, really it is not an answer.
Sometimes I get tired of measuring stuff and I just want to eat how I used to. The only thing that I don't measure is vegetables. As long as it is a non-starchy vegetable I can eat as much of it as I want.
I have recently discovered two helpful websites that could also be helpful for other people. They are http://www.dwlz.com and http://www.myfitnesspal.com. They have information about foods and restaurants. The first site has listings of many restaurants and their offerings with the Weight Watcher's PointsPlus or Points calculated. That can help you make healthier choices.
Also, Applebee's has two really good salads with point values listed in the menu.
It's Saturday and I'll be weighing in tomorrow and I'll post my progress here. I ate an entire Domino's medium pizza this week, which I know was not a good choice, but I counted the points (20). One person told me that is a lot for one sitting. I know that. I was slipping back into old habits. Old habits are like comfy pj's. You want to keep them even if they are full of holes. Eating a whole pizza is "full of holes", too.
I weighed myself on Sunday and I was too busy to post yesterday. I really thought I was going to see that either I hadn't lost any weight or that I had gained weight. Surprise, I still lost last week! I lost .2 lbs. I guess you could say I am a real LOSER! I hope there is less of me at this time next week.
Starting tomorrow through Thursday, I will have to deal with lunch that I have little control over. I am going to bring some of my own fruit and/or veggies and snacks. That way I won't feel deprived and I won't feel hungry either. This will be a real test. I hope I can make good choices. Send me your positive, make good choices thoughts. And as always, please comment here as opposed to on Facebook.
Food is supposed to be our fuel. The nutrients in food is what keeps us alive and healthy. All animals and plants eat in their own way. Sometimes we eat too much out of habit or for a number of other reasons. I am an emotional eater. That is how I came to weigh as much as I do. Sometimes life gets hard and eating is an easy answer. Although, really it is not an answer.
Sometimes I get tired of measuring stuff and I just want to eat how I used to. The only thing that I don't measure is vegetables. As long as it is a non-starchy vegetable I can eat as much of it as I want.
I have recently discovered two helpful websites that could also be helpful for other people. They are http://www.dwlz.com and http://www.myfitnesspal.com. They have information about foods and restaurants. The first site has listings of many restaurants and their offerings with the Weight Watcher's PointsPlus or Points calculated. That can help you make healthier choices.
Also, Applebee's has two really good salads with point values listed in the menu.
It's Saturday and I'll be weighing in tomorrow and I'll post my progress here. I ate an entire Domino's medium pizza this week, which I know was not a good choice, but I counted the points (20). One person told me that is a lot for one sitting. I know that. I was slipping back into old habits. Old habits are like comfy pj's. You want to keep them even if they are full of holes. Eating a whole pizza is "full of holes", too.
I weighed myself on Sunday and I was too busy to post yesterday. I really thought I was going to see that either I hadn't lost any weight or that I had gained weight. Surprise, I still lost last week! I lost .2 lbs. I guess you could say I am a real LOSER! I hope there is less of me at this time next week.
Starting tomorrow through Thursday, I will have to deal with lunch that I have little control over. I am going to bring some of my own fruit and/or veggies and snacks. That way I won't feel deprived and I won't feel hungry either. This will be a real test. I hope I can make good choices. Send me your positive, make good choices thoughts. And as always, please comment here as opposed to on Facebook.
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