Annoying Samus Samuellson

Random movie generator = awesomeness.

Brief update:

Today is day 8 of 100...first day of my WW week and so far so good. Very core thus far. Yesterday was WI and I lost .6 and considering the weekend's debauchery, I am ecstatic.

I finally had my ear looked at by my doctor. No redness, but there is fluid. It's Mucinex and tons of water for me for the next 4 or 5 days...if that doesn't clear it up, I have a prescription for antibiotics.

I think that's all I've got for now....ta ta!

Booo..hissss

The major thing that was stressing me out is over for now. I got my result back from the National Board and I did not get national certification. I'm now trying to figure out if I want to appeal my score on the basis that the students I work with make up only 1% of the special education community...and on top of the that, 8.3% of that scant 1% are disturbed enough to be sent out of district for schooling...making it imperative that my work should have been looked at through that lens. When you work with children who are severely ED, what would be considered minimal progress in other cases are great leaps. Plus, I also signed up to redo the 2 parts so that next year at this time, I could be considered nationally certified. I'm fine with the rejection, it was the waiting that was making me totally insane.

It's day three of my 30 in 100. I went for happy hour and then to a wine tasting. I had a fabulous time and came out with 17 flexies left until Wednesday. I have dinner at a steak house tomorrow, so most of my meal has Core potential. Monday we're going into the city to see Keisuke, who is coming in from Tokyo on business. He was Chris' college roommate and he makes a point of seeing us every time comes to NYC. Tuesday night Keisuke is taking us to see Van Halen...with David Lee Roth as front man! Oh yeah.

Hope all of you are enjoying your weekends!

Day 1/100

So far, day one of 100 has been uneventful. I've used one flexie so far, which is good because it seems as if my weekend is going to be full of alcohol...at least one crack-a-rita, maybe a couple of Corona lights, a wine tasting, dinner at Ruth's Chris on Sunday, dinner with Chris' old roommate who is coming in from Tokyo on Monday...I've got my work cut out for me when it comes to eating. Plus, what I'm trying to figure out: with all this drinking that I have to do this weekend...when will I be able to (or sober enough) to go running? Yikes!

On the up side, I will hopefully have pictures to share once the weekend is over. That'll liven things up around here...right?

Cuh-razy!

I'm am going a little nuts at the moment, but it should all end shortly, thank God. I'll be sharing all about that once all the piece fall into place...there is a chance that none of the pieces will fall into place, and I'll report out regardless of the end results. I feel as if I'm juggling 3 things at the moment...two of which are intense and one is just plain fun, but the timing has to be just right.

On the Weight Watchers front, I'm thinking about giving the 30 pounds in 100 days challenge again. Tomorrow will be day one of 100 in and we'll see how it goes. I can't ask for anything more. My starting weight is 183...it's an official WW weight.

Me and my freaky, stressed out, bride-of-Frankenstein haired self will be back tomorrow (I hope!)

dying

Ugh, I am just dying to get into a routine. the working 12 hour days, 3 days a week thing is killing me. I used to be worried about what I was going to do with my days during summer vacations, but now I long for those mornings where I don't actually have to do anything and I can lie in, or get up and go to the gym, or for a bike ride, or go to Starbucks, or go to the library (as a patron!) Just one more week after tomorrow and I'll be home free. Then I'll be able to get into a regular Weight Watchers routine again. I haven't been to a meeting in 2 weeks. I just don't have the time or motivation. If I'm not at work (like I am right now) I'm in my pajamas at home.

I've basically given up on the 30 in 100 and I thin I need to restart it when school ends...maybe make it a tad shorter....I don't know. I need suggestions, people!

I would like to give a shout out to my blogger buddy, Marta, who weighed in at 165! I am completely jealous and insanely proud of her.

Day 60

It's day 60, at least according to my calendar where I wrote a number every 10 days when I was planning out this 30 in 100 thing. It's so frustrating to know exactly how to do the core program, and really enjoy the food, and still not be able to stick to it. Wednesday was weigh-in, I lost 2 pounds. It was also Chris' birthday, and since then I've been on a downward spiral. It has a lot to do with cheese. It usually does.

For Chris' birthday, I made a very nice cheese platter. It was also incredibly tasty...there's nothing like expensive, stinky cheese to make one happy. Especially with a nice glass of red wine. Thursday, I had a decent time with breakfast and lunch, but went to a BBQ after lunch and ate chips and dip. I had to leave to work at the library and the hostess packed me a small container of pasta salad that was very tasty, and filled with cheese. Friday night, my parents had a BBQ to celebrate Chris' birthday, and although the dinner was pretty healthy (although, not core) the dessert was killer. I brought the dessert. It was a cannoli chips and dip. You see, a bakery a few towns away had a marvelous idea. They use cannoli pastry to make triangle shaped "chips" and dribble chocolate and powdered sugar over them. Then they give you a giant container of cannoli filling in which to dip the "chips". My brother's girlfriend, Aimee, is one of those people I tend to admire when it comes to food...she's very slim and athletic, and really watches what she eats and how much of it...she was the first and second person to eat the dessert. I've never seen anyone move so fast toward a food item. She was in heaven, remarking how ingenious this was and how someone should have invented it years ago. It was that damn good.

Yesterday, I was attacked by leftover cheese and some Mike's Hard (not even the light versions) I did resolve to make today a better day. I made myself a quinoa salad with black beans, mango, onion, a lot of lime juice and a little olive oil. I'm feeling back on track. We're going to have to see where this train takes me, because I'm unsure at the moment.

I'm a baaaaaad blogger

I don't know what day it is in the 30 in 100 scheme. It's hot. My students are all freaked out because of the heat, plus the upcoming summer vacation can be intimidating to emotionally disturbed kids...they thrive on routine. And, who wants to be ED and then stay home and hang out with your ED parents? Apples don't grown on pear trees...at least most of the time.

I did lose 2 pounds at last weigh in, so I'm quite happy about that. Especially since I went to 3 BBQs last weekend. Crazy.

I'm sorry this is so random and strange. I'll be a better blogger later on, I promise!

Day 50....and where is the weight loss?

In theory, I should have lost about 15 pounds by now..but I weighed in at 181 yesterday. What the hell is my deal? I can tell you exactly what my deal is: lack of commitment...I've been "trying" to lose 30 pounds in 100 days instead of "working" to lose, or just plain "losing". I've been "trying" to stick to core, instead of "sticking" to core. It all comes down to this: When you try to do something, it isn't going to get done. When you do something, it's a lot more likely to get done. I'm half way through my 30/100 deal and I don't know (and doubt) I will make it all the way to 30 pounds, but hell, I'm going to lose weight and see what I can get done by July 13th. I've got 7 weeks left. I'm just going to ride the core wave and see what I can accomplish. If it's 10 pounds, it's 10 pounds. If it's 15, it's 15. I'm going to take it as it comes.

My other deal is that I'm sick as a dog. I've got some kind of horrible cold that I caught from my darling brother, Ian. I think I'm retaining water because of the cold meds and all the water I've been chugging because I'm crazy thirsty. I'm just glad that today is the last day of the work week for me. I've got a 4 day weekend that I'm going to chill during, and maybe finally get to play with my new GPS. ( A co-worker is going to give me a tutorial on it today!)

note: I had to re-post this post because for some reason I thought that allowing anonymous comments would be cool...wrong. I got a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge comment that was really a religious/political diatribe. If it had been short, I would have been okay with it...but it wasn't...it was craaaaaaazy long.

Day 36

I lost .8 this past week, which makes me quite behind for the 30/100 plan, but I'm not giving up hope! I think I would have lost more if I hasn't been attacked by those girl scout cookies the week before...it's residual calories hanging around is all. This upcoming week is going to rock! I've been running 3 days a week. I've been eating better. The girl scout cookies are nearly finished and I'm counting on Chris to finish those up for me. Things are going OK.

As for work, I just had a meeting with my supervisor, and it seems that I'm going to be the only one in my department on this campus...which means I will be alone. Finally. No sighing, no freaking out for no reason, no taking my ideas to the supervisors and claiming them. I'm going to be happier (I am happy now, just tense) I'm also going to be setting my own schedule, as opposed to having one set for me. Which is super cool because before I had the set schedule this year, my department, which is scattered all over campuses and programs, used to have a working lunch a few times a month and it really brought us together. We hashed out a lot of problems with testing and stuff.

That's all I've got for now....see ya'll later!

Yoga mat bag

Here is the yoga mat bag I made all by myself....well, I did have the use of Lotta Jandotter's book that was recommended on Amber's site (which I love, love, love! She is so awesomely crafty!) Note the pocket towards the bottom....a lovely home for my keys and gym card.

I'm at the library right now. I packed myself a Core dinner (whole wheat couscous with veggies and olive oil) and I did go running this afternoon. I'm feeling very revved up about 30 in 100 at the moment and I hope this feeling stays!

Day 29...Taking it as it comes

My official WI? I'm up 2 pounds, but I'm sure it's temporary. After all my peevishness the other day, I feel more ready to do this than ever. I am going running this afternoon (if my principal doesn't keep us past our usual release time). I got a sugar free vanilla latte this morning (core) instead of a toffee nut latte (2 points)...hey, 2 points is 2 points...over 7 days? 14 points. I am just trying to be extra careful this week. If I'm going to lose 30 pounds by the middle of July, I've got some catching up to do...and being judicious with my flexies is the way to do it.

I'm feeling totally mellow today. I'm at my desk, listening to a CD I made over the winter. I'm just in good spirits...could be that I'm wearing really comfy jeans today....who knows. It could be that I finally sat with all my sewing crap and made myself a yoga mat bag...I'll have to take pictures of it later. It came out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself, considering I can barely sew a straight line with a sewing machine! (I'll post pictures in the near future)

Thanks again to all of you who had such nice things to say to and share with me. I really appreciate it!

Day 28 The Tide has Turned

I am feeling so much better. Thanks for all of your messages...I was really having a rough day. I turned it all around though. There were 3 components to my mood turning:

• I went running for the first time in about 8 months. I think procrastinating doing something that I really enjoy and I know makes me feel better really irritated me.
• I treated myself to a massage last night. It relaxed me and the masseuse worked out some major knots in my back. The last couple of times I had a massage, I didn't have any knots. Stress...it can make you cranky.
• I made myself a healthy dinner: fresh whole wheat pasta with artichoke hearts, yellow peppers, garlic, basil and I use my good olive oil instead of my cooking olive oil so it had an extra fabulous flavor.

I also talked to Chris about looking at our collective schedules and planning out times where I can go to the gym or exercise without having to tote the dog (and in the future children) all over the world with me. He agreed that in order to support my efforts, he's got to do more than talk. So that will work out. I also figured out that if I can prep myself quickly enough, I can do a short run, and be home and showered by 4:30...so I can do a quick run even on days that I have to work at the library at 5. So I plan to run again tomorrow. I have a staff meeting, but I think I might change into my running clothes and wear sweats to the meeting. That way I can go directly to run.

I also have to make an effort to do some sewing. You can't eat and sew at the same time. Your project will get gross!

Day 27 and Pissy

I am in a foul, foul mood. I truly believe it's because I fell hard off the wagon and so I'm nutritionally deficient. I ate cookies, crackers and dip for dinner last night, and I was mad at myself about that. Then Chris came home and gave me a nutrition lecture, including minor harassment about not going to the gym. So that made me even angrier at myself, but of course, as a defense, I got pissed at him. Then this morning, I dropped Reuben off at my parent's house, and I was already in a snark. My mother then asked me if I was going to the gym today. I told her "no" and that I have to go to Home Depot to buy my father's birthday present because if I don't do it, none of my siblings would. I proceeded to get into the car and mutter under my breathe. I am in a moooooooood.

I am trying to eat better today. I have a work fridge filled with fruit. I'm drinking more than my fair share of water in hopes to flush out the toxins ( and the crabbiness). I'm not expecting anything but a gain at tomorrow's WW meeting. I can only take it one minute at a time.

I think I need to do something for myself this afternoon. I wanted to get another massage, and I've put it off for about a week. I got a pay check from the college I'm an adjunct professor for, so I've got a little cash that I could spend on myself. Maybe I will get a massage if this 'tude isn't kicked by this afternoon.

You know what? I just don't know what to do and it's killing me.

Fear...day 25

The last 18 hours have been dieting hell. I left my food journal at work (duh) and so I've been trying to keep track of flexies on a little piece of paper...not as effective. Plus, while Chris was out bike riding with his buddy, Mike, last night, I was attacked by girl scout cookies and almonds. I don't know what happened, but it was almost a frenzy. Well, not so much a frenzy, more like I kept finding myself in the kitchen with cookies in my hand and mouth. There was really no thought process behind it at all. That's the part that sucks.

I guess at this point, the only thing to do is to get back on that wagon and ride into the sunset and just take what the scale says on Wednesday in stride. I can't undo what was done, but I can think of that old WW philosophy about the dozen eggs. It goes something like: If you drop one egg on the floor, you're not going to look at the 11 left and throw them after it. I have to stop and get back on track right away (I'll have to control myself tonight when the really, really good cheese comes out...that might be a story in itself later.)

Added to this is that I still haven't gotten myself to the gym! Not even for a massage or yoga! Can you believe it? I certainly can.....I am a bad, bad girl.

Other than dieting woes, I am trying to get my hobbies organized, which is a joke because nothing about my life at home is organized....but I've got some projects that I want to do and getting organized will help.

Planning out the week

I love planning out the week, but it seems like I can't really stick to it. Very lame. the only thing that may get sticky this week end is dinner at my in-law, which is always a big to-do. There is always tempting, tempting food. Brie (CHEESE...my other demon, easily partnered with PIGS IN A BLANKET), almonds, rich rich savory dinner food, super dessert. It seems that every time I go, there is no plan that will stick. I'm thinking that I'll have to horde 20 flexies just for that night because it's not exactly Core-ific!

I love my mother-in-law, she is very understanding of my dieting, and she's not putting those wonderful foods out to tempt me...she's putting them out for Chris. Her only child. The man who can eat anything without repercussion. The man who eats a solid 7-9 meals a day.

The other thing I really need to do is start exercising again. I miss it, but I'm also not terribly enthusiastic about starting it up again. It's a weird thing. Maybe I need to break into it slowly...go to yoga tomorrow night like I wanted to. That might be the way to do it. Will I actually get in there? I don't know.

Other than this, things are going okay. I'm in the last quarter of school. I only have one reading report left to write. I do need to start post-testing all the students on May 1st, but that's okay. I like my job and all it's geeky little bits.

Day 21

Where are all these days getting to? I have not a clue.

Lost 1.2 at WI today. I'm averaging 1 pound a week, and that's a fine start by all accounts. I'm not unhappy. I still have 79 days left and who knows what my body has in store for me once it stops boo-hooin' over the allergies.

This past week was a decent one, and I'm expecting the next week to be just as good. I've got menu ideas for the upcoming week. I want focus on getting de-stressed so I think I might go to Rest and Relaxation yoga at my gym on Friday and then maybe a massage Saturday afternoon. Once I get the stress management thing underway, I'll consider other things. Meanwhile, I'm allergic to the world and as a result, I can't go running or bike riding. Maybe I'll get back into the weights. Only time will tell....but I'll keep you posted.

While I was at my meeting tonight, another member said exactly what I truly believe...that many of us actually have an eating disorder (usually food addiction) and we need to go to meeting just like the people who go to AA or NA. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one at my meeting who feels that way! The last time I spoke to someone about it they thought I was nuts.

The other cool thing that happened is that there is a sudden and huge interest in Core. I got to participate so much more than I usually do (at this new meeting, at the old meeting I talked a lot). Very cool!

Day 14, weigh in #2

Official WI: 179.6 A loss of .8 and I am not unhappy. Sometimes the best things take off in a slow manner. I'm determined to have a good week this upcoming week. I've got no pot luck dinners, no cupcakes that I have to make. It's going to be an average, hanging out kind of week...and I'm happy for it.

I think that this is the week that I'm going to starting running again. My allergies are already killing me, so why not be outside more? Plus, the temperature is perfect for me to run in...kind of cool out. And I've got my new iPod shuffle that I've yet to play with....all signs point to "run"!

Day 12/100

It's time to catch up folks....I didn't quite stay on plan all weekend, but I didn't do too poorly except for the the beer...I did let myself have beer not only Saturday night at my friend's party, but also yesterday when I came home from working at the library. It was a torrential downpour and Corona with lime seemed to be the way to dry off and warm up. And ya know what? It worked.



I'm back to my regular plan. I ate yummy fat free Greek yogurt this morning with Core cereal added to it for crunch....my current breakfast favorite. I ate multi-grain pasta for lunch with edamame, mushrooms, zucchini, scallions, garlic sauteed in a little olive oil. I'm definitely back on track.



I'm working on a new quilt....well, it's a quilt top that I sewed together 10 years ago and I'm just getting around to quilting it now. I'm finding it to be an interesting project because if I had sew this quilt top more recently, I would not have chosen half of the fabrics that I did. I do like the pattern, though, which is a classic Amish Sunshine and Shadow.



I also am becoming addicted to Work Out on Bravo. Watching that show makes me want to go to the gym and exercise the way I used to when I was actually training for triathlons. The mind is currently willing, but the flesh is weak....and lazy. I have some ideas on how to get some gym time in, but it involves getting up at the crack of dawn and I'm not sure if I'm that dedicated as of yet. I can't even seem to get to the gym consistently when I'm already awake, no less getting up over an hour earlier to get there. Sheesh!

Day 7, weigh in #1

I lost 1 full pound. I'm very happy with that considering that this weekend was that tests and Easter. Things didn't get completely out of control, but this weight watchers week will be much better. Not much going on at all. I have a pot luck to go to on Saturday that I'm really excited about...but the benefit of going to a pot luck is being able to bring your own food.

I'm hoping to lose 2-3 pounds by next Wednesday, which should put me back on track for losing 30 pounds in 100 days.

Day 6

Things have been weird all over. My home computer crashed at the end of last week, which is why I haven't been posting. I also haven't been able to keep track of my calories. My brother did fix it yesterday and he upgraded our hard drive to boot.

Anyway, I'm staying about the same weight wise...but only my official weigh in will tell us for sure. I'm not giving up my 30 in 100, however...it just might take some time. I think I"m off to a good start. I'm getting my eating under better control. I'm watching portion sizes, which is a big thing for me. Once I switched to Core, I let that portion sizes get slightly out of control.