Desperately Seeking Gina

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…back from the Land of Nod

Today was supposed to be the start of a four-day weekend for me….an actual Labor-less Labor Day weekend–the first in probably 10 years. I normally work…{love} the time & 1/2, and being retail, I hardly ever took the weekends off. Always felt guilty and didn’t want to seem as if I were taking advantage of the fact that I do the store scheduling. However, that’s changed this summer. I’ve sneaked in quite a few 3 day weekends and tried to wrangle as many free weekends as possible. Chalk it up to having something {read: someone} interesting to do 🙂

But…retail being so topsy-turvey as it is, I ended up going in for just a couple hours this morning. Had to finish the schedule and sort payroll….but I was quick about it, and was back home in no time at all. And after my “good morning, sunshine” call from Thomas…I was headed off into the land of nod. And I slept. and slept. and slept. Almost 4 hours! so {love} that.

It’s been a busy week….although I did take 3 glorious hours on Tuesday to visit the library…pick out a book, add some to my {ToRead} list, and then spent forever at Hackley Park reading, enjoying the warmth of the late-summer sun, and treating myself to a TCBY shiver. Good Times 🙂 Here’s the book I’m currently reading…and look to my sidebar for my list of To Read books…along with links 🙂 {notice the Amazon Wish list? sneaky, eh?}

Hope you all have a great weekend!

{still eating pretty well…but didn’t do a good job of keeping track this week! back on track next week}

….Gifts

So I had my 10-year anniversary with the store last April….and as a little “thank you-pat-on-the-back-and please let this make up for the measly 18 cent raise” I received a very small catalogue from which to choose my anniversary gift. It was a difficult decision…I tossed and turned over the knife set..or charcoal grill…and then at the last minute this little guy caught my eye. An MP3 player…mischievously looking like an iPod Nano, which I’ve been coveting for awhile (hot pink, of course). So…off went the request form and just a month later this found it’s way to my desk….so thoughtfully and beautifully wrapped in gold paper….

It’s actually a much better model then the one listed in the catalogue….that one wasn’t a video player as well. So…now I have 2 GB worth of music, video, and pictures at my fingertips. Along with a really cute set of pink ear buds (purchased separately….anything labeled “marshmallow” must surely be mine). I haven’t actually played with it much…I’m putting off reading the losers user’s manual….so I’m not exactly sure how it works. I just plugged it in, and suddenly everything on my hard drive filled the dude up. *sigh* guess I’d better print the pages out and read…unless some other {technically savvy} person would like to volunteer to set it up for me *winkwink*

As I mentioned in comments…I’ve been taking the fish oil supplements. Been feeling a little bit better lately. More energy and just a general feeling of being “lighter”–thanks to eating lighter and drinking buckets of H2O. I’ve noticed my complexion looks better…my nails are in better condition and my hair has better texture…other than those {ahem} gray hairs I’ve been finding 🙁 And, although I didn’t weigh any less…I’m thinking I may have at least lost an inch or something…as all my pants are fitting a little bit more loosely. I have to say, too, that I don’t miss the junk much. And I’ve started looking at the sweet stuff as treats…things to be eaten in moderation..and then really, really tasting them when I do allow myself to have them. I was in such a terrible rut of eating anything and everything I wanted-sometimes really quickly and mindlessly, here in front of my monitor. Now, though…I’m really trying to slow down. It really is something to continue to work on…and I’m confident that I’ll totally love the results.

Hope you’re feeling the same toward whatever obstacles face you today..and always.

g

Monday:
{am: yogurt w/ granola, banana, H2O}
{snack: peach, H2O}
{lunch: ww baked ziti, salad, H2O}
{pm: 2 fish sandwiches from Mickey D’s, diet dr. pepper}

…Weekend Recap

After the “weight management” class on Friday I caught a movie at the Cinema Carousal. Saw the Nanny Diaries. I must have been on a New York Socialite kick last week, as this was one of the themes of the movie: Socialite moms who depend on the nanny to raise the children. It was kind of boring…and kind of a waste of $6. Poorly written screenplay…bad acting (Scarlett Johanson), and a really cheesy red umbrella analogy. Could have been a decent story though…so I’ll pick up the book from the library sometime. Near the end of the movie, the older gentleman sitting 6 seats down from me had an “accident.” Yeppers….he wet himself…and then sat through the rest of the movie!! Now…I’ve been witness to some pretty funny “accidents” at the movies, particularly one of my friends barfing before the start of the movie {and she shall remain nameless, unless she choose to reveal herself–lol} but I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wet themselves. Felt bad for the old guy 🙁
I love getting to the movies early enough for the previews. Looking forward to a couple of movies…John Cusack in Martian Child, and Nic Cage in National Treasure: Book of Secrets…totoally loved the first movie and this one looks just as good.

Not much else going on, unfortunately. Worked both Saturday and Sunday mornings….did some work on the blog {added pictures over in the sidebar..speaking of which…is my list of stuff appearing on the side…or down at the bottom on your screen?}

Still watching what I’m eating…here’s my weekend eats:

Friday:
{am:cheerios & milk}
{lunch: veggie burger w/ cheese, carrots, H2O}
{snack: grapes, plain yogurt w/ granola, H2O}
{dinner: ww pizza, granola, H2O}
{snack: grapes, H2O}
Saturday:
{am: cheerios&milk, 1/2 cup O.J., H2O, apple}
{lunch: veggie burger w/ cheese, carrots, H2O}
{dinner: ww pizza, H2O}
{snack: granola, grapes}

Sunday:
{am: breakfast rice, OJ}
{snack: nutri-grain bar, H2O}
{dinner: 3-egg omelet, hash w/ peppers&onions, Diet Dr. Pepper}
{snack: Quakes rice Snackers, grapes, H2O}

…Fitness Friday

So the weight class was an actual weight class. I, along with 4 other struggling dieters had to sit through a 2 hour class listening to nutrition facts, definitions of carbs, proteins, and fats, and, of course, the importance of exercise. Great. Perfect for the uninformed. Not that I’m a know-it-all…but I’ve been there. I’ve had that class. I pretty much know the basic facts of nutrition and weight loss. My problem is motivation. My problem is not knowing if I’m getting enough essential vitamins and minerals. My problem with being overweight is that I don’t exercise, that I’m not motivated enough, that I’m lazy. At least I was those things. I’m working on changing them. I’ve become aware of what I’m eating…how I’m eating, and when I’m eating. Writing this stuff down certainly helps. Having friends who are reading what I’m eating helps. So…I guess I just take it from there. I keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last couple of weeks…but step up the physical activity. I am the same weight I was at my Dr’s appt a couple weeks ago. Didn’t lose 🙁 But also…didn’t gain 🙂 yay for me. We did talk a little about a vegetarian diet…and taking vitamins…and I have a handy little sheet telling me how to combine proteins to make up for the lack of meat.

When we were discussing logging our food habits, someone mentioned The Daily Plate. It’s a website that, once you’re registered, helps you log your calorie intake, keeps track of meal plans, etc. Might be helpful. I’ve also put a link over in my sidebar.

Did I mentioned that all through the class, the more we talked about food, the more I was starving 🙂 My quick bowl of cheerios this morning just wasn’t enough. The class and I decided they should provide snacks for us while we sat listening to the dietitian.

So…today I’m just hanging out at home….doing laundry, cleaning, and playing online. It’s rainy out…again…perfect day to cozy-up at home and relax. I’m working a couple hours each both Saturday and Sunday…and working through next Thursday til I get another 3 day weekend. {Loving} those.

Hope all is well…and that you guys and gals have a super weekend.
Happy {well} eating!
g

…Heber on my Mind

Can’t stop thinking about the impending move. Excited yet very, very nervous. I tried the moving-away thing once before, you’ll remember. I was a lot younger then, though. I’ve grown up quite a bit, right? Every time Mom and I discuss it, we both end up in tears. I just keep saying it’s not Japan….it’s only 16 hours away…not even a day’s drive away. And then I think of leaving Ty…my sweet, sweet little nephew with whom I’ve spent just about every other weekend for the last {almost} seven years…and I lose it again and again. If only I could take him with me. So anyway…that’s what’s on my mind. And since I like sharing pictures…here’s the two of us this past weekend. Walkin’ in the rain…

Read one more book this week…Bergdorf Blondes by Plum Sykes…..funny little book about New York socialites…..funny but predictable. I practically wrote the ending myself a couple of chapters into it. A cute read though and a little glimpse into fashion and husband-hunting.
I’m off to see the nutritionist tomorrow. I guess what it’s really called is a “weight-loss class” at the Diabetes Program Center in Muskegon. I think I prefer “seeing the nutritionist.”

g

Thoroughly Fulfilling Thursday:
{am:2 leggos w/ rasp jam, H20}
{snack: 1 cup of green grapes and OJ}
{lunch: 6″ tuna on wheat and baked chips, “light” lemonade”}
{dinner: assorted veggies and dip, H20–must mention that I drove my brother to Dogs N Suds for the much much coveted chili-dogs and fries, and I ordered only the veggie platter!}
{snack: TCBY shiver}
{buckets and buckets of H2o today!}