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?)