lessinayear

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!

For the weekend, that is.

Of late, I’ve been traveling a lot on the weekends, which is fun and hard all at the same time. This weekend is one of only two for the next SEVERAL weeks (months?) that I’m not either going anywhere or having guests stay with me. I’m so excited about doing whole lot of nothing!

Actually, though, there are plans. Tonight is date night! Boyfriend and I are going to a movie — think we may go see the documentary “Food, Inc.” I’ve been really eager to see it, and usually he just likes to make me happy. Tomorrow we’re getting up earlyish and going to the farmer’s market to stock up on some yumminess. Then his parents are coming up for lunch and to spend the afternoon. Church on Sunday, followed by the gym. After that, some cleaning and errands. A productive weekend — and one not spent in the car!

I think I MAY make it under 200 pounds (again) for this weekend’s weigh-in, too — especially if I do eat well for the next couple of days. THAT would make me happy.

A good weekend to all of you. Rest well and work hard!

Leaving work shortly for another weekend out of town. Cannot wait till the schedule slows down and I can sleep in, clean house, and do nothing! Argh!!

Anyway, this weekend we’re headed to my mom’s to celebrate her birthday, and also to visit with other family who are going to be in town. It will be the first meeting of many of these folks for the boyfriend — hope he’s ready for my family — lol!

Should be good, and hopefully it will allow for some semblance of routine, healthy eating, etc. My boyfriend is so excited about us getting to walk my mom’s dog he can hardly stand it. (We really need a dog!!!)

So I’ll be out of touch all weekend, but wish everyone a great one! Will catch up with folks Monday…

Was out of town this weekend for a family trip to Ohio. Long story, but suffice it to say that it had to be done, even though it meant 15+ hours in the car for very little ultimate reward. Anyway, it’s done, and I’m back.

Didn’t get to do much exercising over the weekend at all (Saturday managed a good walk, but my main activity all weekend was sitting in a car). Didn’t eat terribly, but not great either. Don’t you wish restaurants offered better options? Even salads are fatty in restaurants! (Overall, can’t complain, though I did have a couple of meals that as I was eating them I could feel myself bloating!)

In good news, I did lose three pounds last week. As little as I did exercise, that makes me pretty sure it was water weight/bloating that caused the gain week before last, but whatever. I still need to get my act together and get back to the gym in a dedicated way this week.

Not a lot else to report, really… Just sort of checking in since I was MIA since midday Friday. Hope everyone’s Monday is off to a good start!

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!

Hope that everyone had a good Independence Day weekend. Mine was great… Tiring, but really good.

My boyfriend and I both had Friday off work in honor of the 4th, so we slept in and then drove to his hometown to see his family. Had lunch with his grandmother, and made dinner that night for his parents (they’re so impressed with me for teaching him how to cook - lol). Saturday we all headed to their place on the lake for 4th of July festivities: boating, Frisbee, swimming, grilling, drinking, fireworks… The whole deal. It was a lot of fun. Got to hang out with friends and family (there were about 35 of us there at one point) and generally enjoy the day.

Sunday we got up before most everyone else (we were the two sober ones at the party) and took the boat out for a while, which was awesome… Except that I managed to step on something and cut the heck out of my foot. I didn’t really notice when it happened…just that I was bleeding all over the floor of the boat. Oops! Anyway, it’s not awful, but it’s just in a bad spot - right on the ball of my foot, so basically every step I take irritates it. After we got home Sunday afternoon I cleaned it really well and I’ve got it bandaged up… It just sucks because it definitely kept me out of the gym yesterday (don’t think I need any “impact” on it quite yet) and probably will again today. I’m torn between wanting to try it, and wanting to be super-safe about it so I know it’s healed enough for me to start my yoga class next week. Sigh.

Anyway, food wound aside, a great weekend, and this week is off to a decent start. Hope everyone is doing well and having a good one!

Did my weekly weigh-in yesterday and I’m still hanging at 202 — boo.

That said, I can’t complain a whole lot. I know the weekend is what did me in. I went to Atlanta to visit one of my best friends, and I drank more over the course of two days than I probably have in the whole year so far combined. Seriously. So it was a huge number of calories, and I didn’t get to exercise much on Saturday (we did go to the park and walked quite a bit, but it wasn’t intense at all).

Anyway, it’s a bummer, because I was hopeful about my 10-pound challenge for June, and I may have screwed that up. BUT, I went to the gym when I got home yesterday, and I’m heading there at lunch today, and I’m going to “get back on the horse” and hope for the best. No — not hope — I’m going to WORK for the best.

A happy Monday to all — hope you’re feeling happy and healthy midway through the month!

Seriously. That’s what today is, I have learned from my co-workers. Luckily, no one brought any in. Unfortunately, someone did bring in other random breakfast pastries.

But - I am pleased to report - I had none. I had my regular bowl of cereal. I had my leftover sandwich half for lunch. And after lunch, when I was dying for something sweet, I STILL was good and just ate one of my 90-calorie granola bars. I’m feeling overall pleased with the food today, as tonight’s dinner plan is salad.

For yet another weekend, I won’t be at home and on a normal schedule. I’m driving to my mom’s house Saturday morning to meet up with an old friend from middle school who is in town visiting for a few days. We were best of friends in like 7th and 8th grade, and then sort of drifted apart during high school. We’ve reconnected over the past year or so by e-mail, so I’m excited about seeing her and hanging out for a few hours. Luckily, the weather is supposed to be really nice, so before or after our visit, I can also take a long walk with my mom’s dog.

Sunday I’ve got to drive back to Knoxville - and get started on my work for my summer class. Just got the syllabus, which is going to be booty-kicking. I spent much of the morning planning out my schedule for the month, almost to the hour. No kidding.

Anyway, friends - Happy National Doughnut Day! Let’s all celebrate by eating some nice, unsweetened fresh fruit!

Back from my long weekend in San Francisco with my boyfriend and a bunch of his old friends. It was good — exhausting in a lot of ways, but fun. San Fran is a great city, and this was the first time I’ve really been able to explore it much.

We walked and walked and walked… Especially Friday was a crazy day in terms of walking and moving. (Alcatraz is a hike!) We didn’t have a car, so we were using the public transportation system in the city (which is great), and hoofing it. Felt good to move that much…

The food in San Francisco is great… We ate pretty well, though I did drink more than I should have on Saturday night in terms of calories.

And maybe that’s why I’m STILL at freaking 204 for the third week in a row! I’m so frustrated. But, I’m also taking responsibility for it. I haven’t done as much as I could (and, obviously, should), so I’m going to be better.

I’ve put up a challenge on the forums to help motivate myself and others whe are interested: http://www.weight-loss-forums.buddyslim.com/weight-loss-challenge/5142-join-me-june-challenge.html

I’m hoping that having such a specific goal, and some others to keep me accountable, will help me. (Everyone who has expressed interest — today’s start weigh-in day!)

About to head in to work (took the morning off to deal with jetlag — nothing like a three-hour time jump)… And to the gym! Let’s get to it — new months are motivating!