Day 28

Okay, so I am going to have to stop labeling my posts by days now that I have officially decided to keep this blog going beyond the original 30 days. I figure April 30th will be my last "numbered" post. Now I will have to come up with something a little more creative!

Now, some exciting news first: I just found out that a blog I wrote on Shine (from Yahoo!) has been selected as an "Editor's pick". It is a piece I wrote that pertains to this blog, so I am super-excited about it! Sometimes it is the little things that makes one's day. I mean, I am just giddy with excitement right now, even though it is a small thing. Maybe I will write another blog for Shine...

Today was not a hugely eventful day. I did manage to do a little exercise, just not at the gym. I did some walking which I figured was better than nothing. I also went grocery shopping and I was pleasantly surprised to find that, not only were my food choices quite sensible, but it was a whole lot easier to shop than it has

been in recent weeks. It occurred to me that the reason for this is because I am already learning my food labels and already know what I should buy. This may seem like a small thing, but believe me--I see it as a huge step to making permanent, long-lasting changes.

Oh, and I still cannot find my Special K fruit crisps anywhere. I went to two different stores tonight in my vain search to find them. I guess I really don't need the processed food, but I sure miss them!

And on a side note, I kept having to pull my damned pants up the whole time I was shopping. A sign of weight loss? I sure hope so! But I am sticking to my promise not to weigh in again until I meet with my trainer again, which will be next Tuesday.

Not to stray too off topic, but I have to make a comment about the book I am reading, "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I have never had a book cause so many emotions for me before! I am only on chapter 9 (and they are very short chapters, in case you haven't read it already), but I have never experienced a book quite like this before. I can relate to the author on so many levels (for example, it turns out we were both going through our respective divorces at the very same time). At the same time, I have never had the kind of "luck" she seems to have (a hint--chapter 8 reveals something about her luck). I started a journal of sorts, jotting down my thoughts and feelings as I read this. I can't explain it, but I felt compelled to do so. This book just has me mesmerized right now!

Tomorrow is back to work--again. I really feel like I needed more time off this week than what I had. At least I feel more prepared, food-wise. I am trying to be more conscientious this week about my fruit and vegetable intake. I am finally getting the hang of planning my 5-6 meals each day and staying within my 1500-1600 calorie range, I just need more fruit and vegetables than what I have been eating. The great part about the smaller meals is that I can't seem to eat as much as I used to. No more stuffing myself silly! I like it!

Thank you to everyone who has answered my poll and to those who have taken the time to post a comment. I truly value your feedback and comments! And Cassandra--what can I say? You have been my biggest cheerleader so far and have kept pushing me and feeding me advice and for that a big THANK YOU!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Days 18 & 19

This is really starting to get old!

I couldn't post anything for Day 18 because of yet another double shift. I will tell you something else, too, they wreak havoc on a person's diet plan!

Needless to say, I have not been doing so well with watching what I eat, etc. It hasn't been as bad as I was eating previously, but I also have not been eating a lot of fruits or vegetables or drinking as much water as I should (one tends to avoid a lot of fluid when the ability to use the restroom is limited!) I know I need to find a way to reconcile this since this is going to be an on-going problem with work. It definitely needs to be addressed!

On a plus note, tomorrow is my first appointment with a personal trainer! I am nervous and excited. I have never had a personal trainer before, so I am really looking forward to learning from her. She wants to know what my goals are and I am wondering if it is too much to say, "Lose weight, tone up, have more endurance, and build some muscle". Am I supposed to pick just one?? I am looking forward to sharing what I learn!

Oh...and another side note--I still cannot find my Special K fruit crisps. I am really curious--has anyone else tried them? Obviously, others share my view that they are delicious because they have been sold out for three weeks now!!

I noticed that I haven't posted any new recipes in a while. I think I will try to change that since I will have the next few days off from work (woo hoo!!) I want to find a delicious recipe that a friend of mine once gave me for a vegetable quiche. It tastes so good, I swear you won't believe it is low fat and good for you!

My most recent poll is coming to a close and I see that the three people who voted (thank you!) all seem to think I should continue with this blog. I am in agreement since I have truly learned more than I ever thought I would by simply keeping a journal during this process. I think I will need to change the name, though, since the name "30 day challenge" really won't apply. Any suggestions??

So, I am hoping this will be the last of my "short" posts for the next few days since I will actually have a little more time to dedicate to writing. I hope you will stay tuned because I hope to have some exciting and useful information in the days ahead...

Stay tuned!

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."

Day 15 & Half Way There!

Ah! So today felt like soooo much less of a struggle since I was allowed my cake and eat it, too (only in a manner of speaking, of course). I ordered my beloved Starbucks in the non-fat version and all felt right with the world! I can't explain it--it just made the rest of my food choices for the day seem so much easier. I guess by having my indulgence (minus the guilt) I didn't feel like the day was a total bust.

Speaking of indulgences, I cannot find my delicious Special K fruit crisps anywhere! They are so popular that they have been sold out for the last two weeks! And I am talking sold out at three different stores (yes, I went to three different stores for two weeks trying to find them). I am so bummed because I just love them. They are the perfect 100 calorie dessert or snack and I am missing them terribly--I have been out of them for a week!

What I did have today was a tangelo. It was so juicy and absolutely delicious! I know the picture shown today is a bunch of oranges, but I posted it today in honor of those tangelos. I bought a bunch of them and I am so glad I did. Perfect snack...

Before I get too much further into this post, I need to mention something about tomorrow's post: I may not be able to post anything until Day 17. I am scheduled to work a double shift tomorrow night and I do not know if I will be able to get to a computer at any point for my daily entry. So if you don't see anything tomorrow, don't panic! I am only working...

Anyway, now that I am upon the half-way mark of this blog, I am coming to realize that this may need to become more than a "30 day challenge". My initial intent was to follow the 30 day diet I had found on-line, but that has been discarded long ago. It was just not a sustainable diet. I think I would have been either committed to an insane asylum or been the subject of some wild Haagen Daz take-over (and certainly a major headline in the news) by now if I had stayed with that plan. And now with my new personal trainer entering the scene this week, I am beginning to feel that this changes the dynamic and purpose of this blog. I mean, it will take some time before I see any real changes from the work-outs--certainly longer than the two weeks left for this blog.

I guess I will make that my next poll!

Hopefully I will be able to post tomorrow, but if not never fear for you will hear from me soon!


"Whether you think you can or you think you can't -- you are right."