lessinayear

I’ve not written a blog in a couple of weeks. This is a busy time of year for my job; that’s the main reason. I’ve also been trying to spend a little less time online in general, a little more time engaged with the “real world,” if you know what I mean…

I’ve been doing pretty well in terms of exercise. There have been some off days, but my boyfriend and I are going to the gym together with increasing consistency. I have to be the instigator of it, but he’s a very willing participant, and it’s starting to become a little more of a routine. I’m hopeful that within the next couple of weeks, when our fall schedule is really in place, we can be even more dedicated.

I started my fall grad school classes last week, and I have another one tonight. That adds a level of complication… But hey, what doesn’t, you know?

Basically I’m rocking along — not losing, but maintaining. I feel like I’m right on the brink of having a good loss week, and that will be a majorly motivating factor.

Anyway, that’s the boring update on my life. Will try to be a bit more active and talkative. Blessings to you ladies (and gents) who are reading!

I’ve been MIA for about a week — sorry about that, friends! I was out of town Friday through LATE Monday, and then Tuesday was a totally lost day trying to catch up at work. Yesterday was better… Till I had a huge new project thrown at me. It’s just been a crazy few days, even for checking e-mail and stuff.

So let’s see… Over the weekend my boyfriend and I went to Canton, Ohio, for the NFL Hall of Fame inductions and expo game. We’re Titans fans, so it was a great game for us! We were there with one of his college friends, who’s a Bills fan — it was a little less fun for him. But truly, it was a great time getting to meet some of his friends, hang out, and watch some football! (I think I’m an overall happier person during football season!)

We left to head home on Monday, and stopped in Cincinnati at King’s Island to ride roller coasters on the way home! It was wonderful! We had such a good time. We both love stuff like that — it was a really great way to spend an afternoon. Of course, it meant getting home super-late…

And, when we got home, it was to my boyfriend’s smoke detectors going off. They’re all hard-wired together through his alarm system, so if one goes, they all go… There was no fire, thank goodness, but his alarm system is ALL jacked up. We were up till the wee hours of the morning trying to get the alarms to shut up, figure out the issue, call repair people… Boo.

Poor boyfriend… He’s having a really hard time lately. He has gained some weight — not a ton, but some — and he’s feeling really bad about it. He knows I find him attractive, but he’s worried about his health (his dad is significantly overweight, and he doesn’t want to start down that path). He’s pondering doing Weight Watchers. I’ve never tried it, but it doesn’t seem like my kind of plan… However, as boyfriend acknowledged, he does a lot better when there’s a “system” to anything he’s attempting, so it may be great for him. We talked about it a lot yesterday and I’ve told him I’m 100% behind whatever he wants to do, and I’ll cook whatever we need to, help him keep track of points (or however it works — I’m clueless!), continue to be the gym motivator (even more so)…

I just don’t want him to feel bad about himself. He’s too wonderful for an extra 20-25 pounds to make him this upset.

I think the next couple of weeks will be interesting as we figure out what plan will work best for him and really (re)commit to our health.

I’ve been a little MIA for the past few days. Work is… Well, my job is challenging always, but this time of year is particularly busy, and I have a lot of projects stacked up. Unfortunately, at my job, poor planning on other people’s parts DOES constitute an emergency on my part. I’m trying to catch up on a lot of things that other people should have finished weeks ago. (Sigh.)

That all said, I’ve been eating, at least, remarkably well, and have managed to get in at least some exercise every day so far this week. Just haven’t had a lot of time to be online and check in with folks. (So hi everyone! Hope you’re all doing well and feeling healthy!)

I’m about to head out of town for the weekend again. Leave tomorrow for Ohio… My boyfriend has gotten us tickets for the NFL Hall of Fame inductions and expo game. The Tennessee Titans are playing — yay! Really looking forward to our jaunt to Canton.

Anyway, in case I don’t make it back on the computer before next week — happy weekend and healthiness to you all!

This week has been a challenging one, on a lot of levels. I did my weigh-in and, for the first time since joining BuddySlim, I’d gained — boo! I got some test results back from my annual checkup, and there are some issues that are going to require a follow-up visit and some more tests — boo (and a little scary)! Work has been monstrous lately (big special events that require a lot of my time and effort) — boo! My boyfriend’s family’s house was burglarized earlier in the week — boo (and again, scary)!

I actually could go on and on; this week is kind of one for the record books in terms of bad, annoying, and/or upsetting things that have happened.

So how have I responded? Well, I’ve used those things as excuses: excuses not to go to the gym (too tired, don’t feel well, need to work late, need to spend time with boyfriend); excuses to eat too much and drink more than I usually do (but I’m so stressed out…this glass of wine will help, cheese is my comfort food). EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES!

I’m frustrated with myself, because I’m better than that. Everyone has bad days (and weeks — hell, months and years, sometimes!). I need to get my act together and not let something bad in one small area of my life affect the rest of my life — or my commitment to myself and my overall health.

It’s just gotten me to thinking — if you’re looking for an excuse, you can always find one. And if you’re looking for a reason to be motivated and dedicated, you can find that too. So, the question is, which one are you looking for?

Well, I did my weekly weigh-in (just never got around to it yesterday) and… BOO! I gained FOUR pounds!

Now, honestly, I had expected to either maintain or gain maybe a pound. I didn’t exercise last week, and I didn’t adjust my eating accordingly. But four pounds?! I mean, it’s not like I was gorging myself on cake every night either!

Part of the issue is undoubtedly “feminine” in nature — later this week it will be “that time of the month,” so it’s entirely possible that I’m a little bloated. I’m taking some solace in that. But I’m also pissed, and I’m getting my fat butt in gear and working out tonight. GRR.

Had a good, but busy, weekend - no real time to get online and blog or check in with anyone. Sorry about that!

Friday night my boyfriend got us tickets to the local minor league baseball team’s game. It was fun, despite the fact that the home team lost big time! But there were fireworks after the game, and the weather was nice. We also were sitting right behind a little boy who had a scorebook and was keeping score of the game and really into it - much like my boyfriend. It always warms my heart a bit to see him engage with kids; what can I say?

Saturday we had a pretty early morning - got up and headed to Chattanooga to have lunch with some friends, but ended up spending the entire afternoon with them. Then we went to my boyfriend’s grandmother’s for a big family cookout shindig, which was actually lots of fun. I’m getting way more comfortable with the fam…

Sunday we tried a new church, then had lunch, and then I gave my boyfriend a massage. We spent the rest of the afternoon kind of lounging/napping. Had planned on going on a walk before dinner, but about the time we were leaving, a HUGE storm rolled in and it rained the rest of the night. So, so much for that plan! We watched movies instead.

Anyway, I am a slacker - I didn’t do my weigh-in yesterday like usual, so I’ll have to do that tonight. I’m 99% sure I’ve gained this past week (BOO!). I was nursing my foot injury (MUCH better now - I’ve gone the past two days without wrapping it, and it seems OK), so I didn’t want to exercise and jack it up more… But I also wasn’t eating great, and I only did weights like twice last week… Totally unacceptable.

I’m loving MJ’s 10-week challenge, though, which has me being daily accountable for food, exercise, and my own “personal challenge,” so I’m optimistic about the next several weeks. I’m also already feeling the morning and evening crunches in my abs - lol!

One bummer on the exercise front… I was SO excited about my six-week yoga class that was starting tonight… But it’s been canceled. I got an e-mail yesterday that enough people didn’t sign up for it, so they aren’t doing it. Big-time bummer. I hope I can find something else similar soon. Sigh…

Anyway, that’s my rundown for now. Will weigh-in tonight (and probably post that lament tomorrow)! Happy Monday, all!

My grad school class wraps up this week - all I have to do is survive till Thursday night at 8, and I get my summer back!

It’s been a long month; I’m tired. I’m also frustrated with having to be so carefully scheduled to get anything and everything done. The weekend (we’re going to the lake for the 4th) will be a nice jumpstart to some relaxing, I hope.

Along with the relaxing will also be the opportunity to spend more time on exercise and taking better care of myself. That’s also something I’m looking forward to.

So, for now, just a few more days of working, reading, writing papers… And then a long weekend away, some plans with friends next week, and my time being MY time again - yay!

No, I’m not talking about a day off exercising or anything like that.

Any of you ever have those days where you don’t quite feel like yourself? You’re overly forgetful. Little things make you cranky. People are all on your nerves. You feel like you could cry over the slightest thing.

That’s the kind of day I’m having. And no, it’s not PMS. (THAT was my excuse LAST week - lol!)

There are a few contributing factors: My boyfriend has been having a rough couple of weeks, and I’m one of those people that if someone I love is hurting, I hurt. My job is a little out of control right now. My grad school class is really intense. I haven’t slept great.

I just hate feeling so “blah.” I started noticing the mood yesterday evening - I just didn’t feel well, and listening to the radio after work, like three different songs made me tear up. Then my boyfriend was cranky again (still), and that hurt my feelings, and then it was just a spiral of pitifulness!

Don’t get me wrong - everything is fine. Boyfriend is good (he knows he’s being cranky, and is apologetic, and it really has nothing to do with me). Work is what it is. I’ve done my exercise today, eaten well, am powering through…

I’m just in a funk. Does anybody else have those yuck days? What’s your foolproof way to get over them?

This past Friday a good friend got married. It was a sweet ceremony, very fitting of the two of them. Yay, A & J!

I went to the wedding with a mutual friend, as my boyfriend was out of town. Several other mutual friends were in attendance at the wedding, and of course we were all taking pictures… Was just looking through some of them, and while I actually look pretty decent in most, ARGH! My freaking double chin! I try to be conscious of how I hold my head in photos — I can usually ward it off — but there are two or three otherwise very cute photos with my big honking chin ruining them!

So yeah, I’m feeling a little self-conscious this afternoon.

That aside, it’s been a pretty good day, in terms of both food and exercise. Just got back from the gym. I did 1.75 miles on the elliptical, on the hilly setting, in 25 minutes. Considering I often do just barely over 2 miles in 30-35 minutes on the non-hill setting, I feel pretty good about it. My week, while busy, is not as out of control as last, so I should be able to hit the gym every day except possibly Wednesday — yay!

Much thanks for everyone’s continued support, btw. I really appreciate all the booster notes, messages, blog comments, etc. Y’all are inspiring — and just plain nice!

OK, so this past week I let my schedule get the best of me. I skipped the gym at lunch to work. I didn’t go to the gym after work so I could spend time with my boyfriend. I let school and work and other outside commitments get in the way of my commitment to me. And that’s got to stop.

I know that it’s not going to be a fast fix, losing this weight, and I know there are going to be setbacks along the way. But I know I need to be committed, 100%, or it’s going to be a lot harder, a lot longer, a lot more frustrating. This is in my hands, and I need to take the responsibility and BE onboard with myself in achieving this.

So this week, I’m going to be committed. I’m going to take the time I need for myself to do what I want and need to do for my body. And next week, when I weigh myself, the scale is going to be BELOW 202.