Just a short one today

Things are going okay on the job front.  I think once Christmas is over, it will go a little more smoothly.  I still, and always will, hate the customer service desk part of it, but the cashier aspect isn't so bad.

I tried something I thought I would never, ever do in my life. YOGA! And not just regular yoga, HOT yoga.  You do yoga in a room with 15 other people, in 35 degree humid heat for an hour.  But the surprising thing was, I LOVED IT!  I would do it twice a week.  If it didn't cost $12 a class.  This makes me a sad panda.

I also started playing badminton. Man, that first night almost killed me.  It hurt to pick up a pen.  But I can't wait to go back tonight. 

Oh yeah, after 3 months, I finally broke the 250 barrier!! I think I am going to try a visual approach with the next round.  Put a loonie (can't afford a twonie :) ) in a dish with every pound I lose.  See how much I can save!

>^..^<

~The only difference between Hell and where I work, is the fluorescent lighting.~

Chapter 3...?

Well, here I sit, staring at the screen, thinking of what to write.

I have been meaning to blog for the last few weeks, I just wasn't sure what to write about.  So I decided to write about everything.

For starters: I will be starting a new job on the 4th of September.  It will be at the Customer Service desk at Canadian Tire.  It's 40 hours a week, minimum wage, raise every year, and benefits.  It's not a perfect job, but I know there is no threat of the store closing in 6 months time, or a contract expiring.  

I totally appreciate the opportunity to have worked on the floor at Zellers with some of the best staff there.  I made new friends while there, and hope I can still be invited to the year end party that all the causal Friday money want to :) 

I wanted to stay till the end, but I had to look to the future and now was the time to expand my horizons and seek another source of employment before there was nothing left in March of next year.  I will miss most of the staff there and who knows, maybe I will end up working with some of them across the way.

With this new door opening, I hope it will give me enough room and motivation to get some me time in there. 

I hope to be able to get a membership for the gym soon because I can feel an addiction to Subway coming on.  It is way to close for me not to go.  I know it is healthier than other options, but it will be costly as well.  I LOVE Subway, I could eat it every day in a healthy way, but it would break my bank for damn sure.

Of course, I will be brown bagging it for the most part, but it is very tempting to eat there all the time!  I did good there today.  Only got a 6" flat bread, roast chicken, and BAKED chips instead of cookies.  That was a really hard decision.  

I've heard good things about something called Quinoa (kin-wa).  It's like cous-cous, and better for you than rice.  I haven't tried it yet, but I did buy some and hope to try it this week.  I will let you know how that goes with my next post.

Shawn's kids were up for a visit at the beginning of August.  It was a great visit.  At least I think it was.  It was cut a little short due to uncontrollable circumstances, but we made it work.  

While they were here, as much junk food as I ate, chips, pop, ice cream, etc, I lost almost 4 pounds.  And I believe it was because for our main meals, I had to share with 3 people, not just 1.  My portions were smaller and there wasn't many bed lunches.  I am trying really hard now to divide my cooking into at least 3 portions for left overs and the such.  And eating more fruit.

With that I am am but ONE pound away from my short term goal and 51 from my first long term goal.  I was supposed to have reached that by my birthday of this year, but to get it off and keep it off, I am aiming for my birthday of next year.  If I can't loose 51 pounds in a year, there is something wrong with me.

All told from the start of my weight loss journey in January of 2011, I have lost, and kept off, a total of 24 pounds.  To some, that may not be a lot in a year and a half, but for me to have lost it and kept it off, is the greatest thing ever.  I honestly wish it was more, and believe if I had will power and motivation, I could have reached my long term goal by my birthday.

I am not placing blame on anyone other than myself, but if Batman and Wonder Woman hadn't gotten married in October 2011, I would still be going to the gym on a regular basis.  I let my membership run out 2 weeks before the wedding so I could focus on giving them a well decorated wedding hall.  I kept saying as soon as the wedding is over, I will re-join.  Well, November came and went, no deals on memberships.  December came and I told myself that it's Christmas, why not wait till January specials.  January came and the Biggest Loser contest was up again, and it included 2 days per week of exercise so I joined.  Didn't sign up with the gym because it was already included and would have cost more money.  Then the whole rash thing happened and with the Biggest Loser contest, came a huge disappointment for me.

So here I am, feeling like I am starting over from scratch.  But I am working on it, and I am working on myself in the mean time.

So right now, I am about to have a nap then get ready for some cards with my awesome friends and my bestie that hasn't been home for over 2 years!  

Here's to a great night!

>^..^<

"Failure is not falling down, it's not getting back up" ~ m. pickford

Get the funk out

Well, I did it.  I am below my lowest weight that was taken May 11th.  It's only 0.4lbs, but I am finally below that mark.  So I celebrated with an ice cream sammage.  It was good.  

All told, I've lost a total of only 22lbs since my weight loss journey started back in January of 2011.  At this rate I should be down to my long term goal in about 3 years :-/.  But now that the weather is nicer and I can get out and walk more, maybe it won't take that long.  I would really love to get back into Danny's classes.  I just don't find myself motivated to do it at home.  

I have to find out what my schedule would be first, because classes are at 8, and I will be working till 9 now.  Maybe I can sweet talk my manager into letting me work days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Off to catch some rays!  

>^..^<

"Here comes the sun, and I say, It's all right" ~ g. harrison

too tired to think of a title.. make one up.

As I sit here and write this today, so much has happened since my last post.  

I got my cute little car and I just love it.  I get over 600km on the highway, and a little over 500 putting around town.  

And last week, I found out the pharmacy that I work for, will be closing its doors on the 19th of June.  Yup, after just buying a brand new car, I am going to lose my job. 

Even reading this makes me sick to my tummy. 

And because of all this happening, I have lost the ability to control my eating.  I didn't think I was a stress eater, but after all this shit that has been going on, all I want to do is eat.  Everything.  I can't be home with nothing to do because I just keep getting up and going to the fridge or cupboard looking for something.  Anything will do.  

In the last month, I only gained a pound. But I fluctuated so badly, that at one point I gained up to 6 pounds.  These 5 pounds lost, should be on the lower side of my last weigh-in in May. 

I have been feeling like shit lately too.  I am going to chalk it up to all the crap happening at work and hope it goes away soon.  

I've been trying to walk the cove in the evenings.  It takes about a half hour with lots of steep hills.  I do enjoy going. I have been missing out on Danny's classes and I am very disappointed in myself for this. But not having a job constitutes of cutting out extra-curricular activities. 

Now I am off to get ready for one of my last 6 days of employment.

>^..^<

The simple things in life

Are the most extraordinary. Like losing 12 pounds since January, and almost 5 inches since May of LAST year, that's pretty damn good.  When you have as much fat as I do, it's a little tougher to turn it into muscle.  

Danny's continuation class is going to be an ongoing thing now. Which is good.  I am going to keep going to that, and make use of the Mango journal I got when I started the Biggest Loser contest. 

Still trying to use the Weight Watchers system too. Not doing to bad with that.  I have noticed that Sunday is not a good day to weigh myself.  After all the cheating I do on the weekends, I have deiced that Wednesday is a decent day.

On a side note. I bought myself a new car!!  My old car just about bit the dust.  It would have needed a LOT of work to pass inspection this year and I figured that all the money I would have had to put in it, would be a few months payment in a new one.  I got myself a little Hyndai Accent. I don't actually get it until Friday because it's coming straight off the truck!  But not another sole took it for a test drive, no km on it, brand freaking new!

>^..^<

"Always remember that you are unique; just like everyone else." ~ unknown

trying to get a nut to move your butt

Greetings from the wonderful village of Moncton!

You know how when you are trying to eat healthier and things come up that you can't? This is happening this weekend. 

Abby and Erika are making their first Communion this weekend and apparently they are having a big "shin-dig".  Well, at least there will be veggie trays.  And cake... with ice cream.... together.  In one big piece.

I am being distracted by them playing Just Dance 3 right now.  They downloaded a few songs and one of them is Walk Like and Egyptian.  I think I might have to try it later.

I was able to start the gym last week.  It would be great if he would do it all the time.  I can do the twice a week and feel better paying $40 a month than $65 at Yvon's.  It is fun and it doesn't feel like you are at a gym.  It's all core and body work.  I just really like it.

Our team came in fourth for the Biggest Loser contest.  I still blame myself because if all this crap wasn't happening to me, I'm sure I would have had a little extra off to bring us up over the POINT FIFTEEN PERCENT we needed to get third place.  Le Sigh.

Not to much new to report this time around.  I should probably go get ready and head out to town to get ready for tomorrows shin-dig!!

> ^..^ <

"sorry, no funny quote today" ~ c. fleiger

End of Chapter 1

As the "Biggest Loser" comes to an end, I can say that although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I didn't give it my all.  As most of the time, I made excuses.  I think I missed 4 classes and only 2 of them I truly couldn't go.  The official final weigh in is tomorrow night. I would like to say I lost at least 10lbs out of this, but I will find out for sure, tomorrow.

As one door closes, as always, another opens.  I have decided to "join" Weight Watchers.  I use the term "join" loosely as I am only following the points system on-line.  www.exercise4life.com has pretty much everything you need.  There is a points calculator, calculator to let you know how many points you can have per day and restaurant pages (although American).

I have been going through my house the last few days and making notes of how many points each item is. So far I have only been surprised that a whole package of Mr Noodles is 10 points.  And if you follow the %daily serving, it's 76% of your daily sodium intake!

One of the trainers of the "Biggest Loser" has made a commitment to have an extended month of classes that are similar to the classes we had for the contest. That starts Thursday and I signed up to take this class.  

It's still the 2 nights a week, but I am swearing to myself that I will put more effort into this.  As of now, I still have 56lbs to go for my first long term goal!  And I wanted to hit that by my birthday in august, but at this rate, I don't think it's going to happen.  But it will!  

I had a friend post a little visual she uses for her weight loss adventure. It's 2 jars with marbles in them.  One is the amount of pounds she wants to lose, and the other is the amount she lost. Takes from one and puts in the other.  I kinda like that idea, I think I may steal it :)  I thought of trying it with loonies but I would probably spend them.

Well, I am off to finish figuring out points for whats left in the house, which shouldn't take too long, there isn't much here.

>^..^<

"I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks" ~ j.e. lewis

There is no death. Only a change of worlds

It had been one hellova week.  Last week I had to take my kitty to the hospital and she didn't make it.  She hadn't eaten in over a week, got fluid build up on her back legs, they couldn't determine what was blocking her bile duct and was in an enormous amount of pain.  It just wasn't right to make her suffer like that.  I felt like the worst person in the world, but she is in a better place right now. 

She had the best life any kitty could have. We gave her all the love we had to give, even when Randal came into the picture.  She was still our favorite and always will be.  

I still have a sad moment when I do something and she would usually be doing something to go along with it.  Like waiting for my cereal bowl for the milk.  Taking straws out of my cups at night and chewing them. The worst was when I came home from Canadian Tire the other day, put the bag down and she wasn't there to lick it.  She LOVED licking bags.  ANY time of day.  I will never hear that sound again. (as annoying as it was, I miss it)

Rest In Peace Peegee McJeezy (PJ) I hope heaven has all the krinkly bags and straws you could hope for. xoxo

With all this happening, I didn't make it to the gym at all last week.  Tuesdays class was cancelled due to weather, and this all happened Wednesday.  I wasn't in any way, shape or form to be seen in public come 7pm that night.  Which I was supposed to go to a wake as well for a co-worker's family member.  And Thursday I completely lost track of time and by 8:25, it was too late to get ready and go to that class.

But this week, I am right on the ball.  I have been working out with the EA Active everyday so far, and noticed I have no coordination with step aerobics(I am glad I don't actually use a step). But that is okay, I will master it! 

I am super pumped to go to class tonight and get back on track. (only 8 classes left). My eating habits are okay, I could do better. I am working on it. 

Go me!!

>^..^<

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats." ~ Albert Schweitzer

Addicted to (fill in the blank)

So this: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/frozen-planet/penguin-cam/ has been taking up A LOT of my time.  Click on it, you will see why.

I have fallen off the wagon again.  Not so much with the eating, but the exercising.  I was all excited to start the EA Sports thing, and I got a few days into it and it's lost the novelty. I am going to try to start up again. I am still on the losing side though. For the mid-way weigh in, I lost 6 lbs, which isn't too bad, averaging a pound a week.  Which is recommended. According to my scales, I lost another 3, but I won't count any additional loss until I use the challenge scales on tuesday.

In other news, our 10ish year old kitty has been in the hospital since friday with Cholangiohepatitis. It's a bacteria that affects the liver (I think). It started off with not eating or drinking, being lethargic and just not herself. When I bought her to the vet, as soon as he looked at her ears, he said "Looks like we have a very sick kitty." The insides of her ears were yellow colored.  Which is the first sign of Jaundice.  And being a dark colored kitty, I never noticed it until he showed me.  So she is at "Hotel Chez There-Goes-Your-Disney-Fund" for the weekend.  I really hope I can make payments, because there is no way I can fork out up to $600 for this. The only reason I took her back to WaterView was because this sort of thing happened before, so I thought it was the same thing.  I had the option of taking her somewhere else. I should have listened to my gut. It may have been a little cheaper. I miss her like crazy!!

Off to get back on the wagon.

>^..^<

"Cats are better than any vice. They're not fattening, dangerous, or expensive. However, they can be addictive." ~ unknown

10 years is a long time...

Tonight we were told that, if one exercises on a regular basis, you can add 10 years of independence to your life.  That is 10 more years we don't have to depend on anyone to wipe our butts for us.

Yup, I don't want to have to depend on anyone to do that for me.  I am definitely going to keep this up when I get old(er).

Had a great night tonight.  It was fun. I pushed myself as much as I could.  The night went by really fast.  We got started and next thing you know, we were halfway through.  It didn't seem like too much longer after that we were warming up.

We are halfway through our challenge.  I didn't realize 6 weeks have gone by.  Midway weigh in is tomorrow night.  I am not expecting big results.  Maybe down 5lbs.  Which I know is better than gaining, but when I look back and this time last year, I was down 12.  Le Sigh... 

>^..^<

"Old age is when you resent the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated because there are fewer articles to read." ~ g. burns

Good thing we didn't do anything stupid, like shoot it

I have officially started my "3 week cardio kick-start" from the EA Sports thing.  I did 2 high intensity workouts on Saturday and Sunday, but they weren't part of the program.  I have it set to coincide with training with Tom on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I don't think I would be able to do 2 of those two night a week.  

I am glad I invested in this again.  I really enjoy it.  And I am also earning Willie trophies :)  There are quite a bit of in game goals. They make you feel good when you achieve them.

I would also like to thank my readers who came all the way from Germany and Russia.   I guess I am known world wide :)

Now I am off to watch me some walkers.

>^..^<

"You see 11 condoms, I see 11 minutes of my life I'm not getting back." ~ Maggie - the walking dead

Six Naked Pigs

I've been a little neglectful lately.  With this, my house, family and most importantly; me.

I am getting in that funk again and I am not liking it.  I started off great.  Writing things down, doing this blog, and all of a sudden, it's like the whole world blew up and I didn't want to continue.  

But...  I am on the road to recovery. In lieu of spending money on a treadmill, I bought EA Sports 2 for the PS3.  I had it for the Wii before and I loved it.  The only thing I didn't like about it was you had to hold on to the wiimote while doing everything. It made it kind of difficult with some of the exercises.  Sports 2 comes with 3 sensors that you put on your arms and leg.  Don't have to hold on to anything.  And one of the sensors is a heart rate monitor.  I set everything up last night and by the looks of it, it seems like everything they do, is stuff we do at the gym I am going to for the Biggest Loser.  Squats, lunges, sit ups, push ups, jogging, resistance band, but I don't see jumping jacks.  Phew! With the 2 nights per week I go to the gym, I will get a little more in with this on off days.

I am going to try to start writing my food intake again.  I was doing well with that too, but on came the funk.  And like one of my team mates said, it is our own fault we are in this mess, we are the ones that have to get ourselves out of it.

Here's to a speedy recovery!

>^..^<

"Once, in gr. 2, I wore my pajamas under my clothes to school. Now, I wear my pajamas AS clothes and never leave my house!" ~ d. digiovanni

Ps. the title for the blog's entry is the translation of "the full monty" movie in china... apparently

Tubthumping

Ugh.  Wasn't feeling it tonight.  I was very excited to get there, and had a good start.  But I just couldn't keep my motivation.  It's like it went "poof" a bit after I got there.

I think next time I am just going to count "Disney1, Disney2, Disney3" etc.  Maybe that will keep me going. 

The trainer is going to start a morning class too, but it's at 5:45 am.  I would like an extra day in there somewhere though.  I've been putting more thought into a punch pass at Yvon's.  Maybe go on saturday or sunday.  Or I could just work on the stuff I can't do a lot of there.  Like jumping jacks and planking.  I am really awesome at the medicine ball sit ups and getting much better at squats.  

Sigh... I dunno... I'm just having one of those days, I guess...

>^..^<

"It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up" ~ unknown

Big Red Wagon

and I fell off it.

I had a big juicy burger from Grant's and holy frig it was good.  But considering that and some toast are the only things I ate today, I don't see it as such a bad thing.  

I did, however, kinda make up for it by getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing my kitchen floor from one end to the other. I had intentions of practicing some of the stuff from Thursday night too, but I ended up going to my aunts and trying to set up her new internet account.  Gawd I hate doing stuff like that.  But a few phone calls later, we got her up and running.  

I was thinking about getting a punch pass for the gym.  So I can get a little extra in.  But I should be getting my treadmill this next weekend hopefully. I am still up in the air about that.

Well, off to catch up on the news.  

>^..^<

"I need my sleep. I need about eight hours a day, and about ten at night." ~ b. hicks

I am a warrior

I am going to go ahead and say that trying to climb in and out of a bath tub after doing lunges and squats is a REALLY bad idea! If I don't have tight buns by the end of the 12 weeks, I am doing something wrong!!

But I don't care, I loved every minute of the workout tonight.  Well, maybe not every minute, but 98% of the time was great.  The 45 minutes flew by!  Need to work on my push-ups though. 

Our team is doing well so far, and it's only been a week!  We WILL be the biggest losers! 

I can't wait until Thursday's class!!

>^..^<

"If some sissy chick tried to kick my @ss I would say hey, missy, go knit me a sweater before I slap you in the face!" ~ Cartman

Ink

Well, I finally got my ambition for losing even more weight.  Hopefully (fingers crossed) I can make the trip to Disney World with my sister and family next year. And I say ambition, so I can fit in the airplane seats and rides while there.

I have set a long term goal of 60 pounds.  I am making small 10lb goals to get there.  At the end of these short term goals, my treat is a tattoo of Eeyore's tail.  On the inside of my forearm.

Kinda like this, but I am imagining it cooler.  I have seen some of the work from the guy I want to do it, I am sure he could awesome it up for me.

This has always been my thought for a tattoo, but just recently I have made it official.  I am constantly losing things (purse, money, papers and now weight), and with the loss of the most wonderful woman 6 years ago, I have decided this will be the one.  (The one I start off with anyway :) I'm not sure yet if there will be any words to go with it. I've always been leery about text. You can't erase that shit!

I really like this one too:

 

>^..^<

"the wonderful thing about tiggers is, I'm the only one." ~ tigger

I can't type with my prune hands

Maybe I shouldn't have spent over an hour in the bath tub tonight.

I did really good this week. I am very proud of myself.  I ate take-out a few times this week, but it was a veggie burger from BK, subway twice, both healthy choices with lots of lettuce  and cucumbers, and no combos.  And soup and half a sammage from the restaurant at work.

Having my morning and afternoon recess snacks.  I've discovered that I eat way too much milk products.  I LOVE milk.  I could eat cereal for every meal of the day, yogurt, pudding, chocolate milk etc.  That is a problem when you are only supposed to 2 servings a day.  Hmmm... must work on this.

I went to a birthday party this weekend and avoided the cake!  I pigged out on fruit and veggies instead!  And my cousins balls.  He makes a mean, tasty, melt in your mouth meatball! 

I never know how to end these things...

>^..^<

"if you can hear a piano fall, you can hear me coming down the hall" ~ j. white 

Satan Gave Me A Taco

I was told the other night that I can eat my favorite treat in small portions as long as I don't have any in the car, at home or at work, so I had to stand outside to eat my cookies today. Just kidding, I didn't have any cookies today.  I haven't had any "junk foods" in since Tuesday, with the exception of a inch by inch piece of birthday cake. 

Finding it hard to drink water too.  I don't like drinking, and don't think of it while I am at work.  I also haven't had any pop since Tuesday.  

I also did my 20 minute ball routine today.  Probably because I didn't have to work till 11:30 and had nothing to do until then.  I hope to get my treadmill in a couple weeks.  I just have to make room for it.  I know I would be on there everyday!

I also find, with writing the foods down that I eat, I eat way too much from the Milk aisle.  I love it!  And of course, not enough fruit and veggies. But I am working on it!

>^..^<

Every day starts, my eyes open and I reload the program of misery. I open my eyes remember who I am, what I'm like, and I just go "ugh... ~ l. ck

Hey, hey, you're givin' all your cinimon away

This whole writing down everything down crap is really difficult. I had Subway today for lunch, I wasn't sure what category to put the meat in. 

Aside from that, I did well.  I had a mid morning snack and a decent lunch.  But after breakfast, I went back to bed.  I could have used that time wisely and tidy the house, but I thought if I went back to bed, I wouldn't eat.  And I didn't.

Supper on the other hand, wasn't so great.  I had dear meat sausages.  Don't get me wrong, I love me some dear steak.  But these things were discusting.  They were supposed to be honey garlic, but there was no flavor to them what so ever.  I am pretty sure I will not be having those again.

Tomorrow will be a whole different day because I will be at work.  I don't eat as much while I am there because we don't get breaks, except for lunch, but they do have vending machines there with lots of goodies.  Maybe I can just not bring any change with me, that way I won't be tempted to buy anything.  But then again, I do work  in a place where snack food is easily accessible. And a restaurant.

Well I am off to catch up of some PVR'd episodes of Jimmy Fallon and The Roots. Three weeks worth.  Gona be a long night!

Have a good one!

>^..^<

*fuck me if I say something you don't want to hear.* e. vedder ~ save you

Sweet Revenge

That is the name of our team.  And the sweets are going to get revenge.

I was a little disappointed when I got on the scales, but not as bad as I thought it would be.  Only gain back half of what I lost.  At least it wasn't all of it.  I went out and bought a set for home, and it's only 4.7lbs in the difference. This way I can check my progress every week.

Don't really like that we have to wait until next Tuesday for the first workout, but at least this week I can try to get into a routine of writing down what I eat.  Thankfully I am not doing it tonight, we still have a box and a half of mini Nestle bars.  I will have to get Willie to hide them on me.

Here goes nothin'!

>^..^<

*I have lived my life in a culture that hates fat people.* ~c. manheim

Watch Out

Started  the day off on a somewhat good note.  Didn't have to work until 12:30.  It was a busy day so it went by quite fast.  Nothing really exciting happened.  I am just glad to be home.

Started watching Sherlock, the BBC version.  3 episodes from each season, they are an hour and a half long.  So far, so good. I probably don't really need to go into detail as to what it's about.  If you've heard of Sherlock Holmes, I am sure you an get some idea.

Tomorrow is the day.  Come 6:30 I will find out how much damage I gained since October.  I am very excited to be starting this up again.  This time there are 2 guaranteed training classes per week, along with nutrition counseling.  And hopefully by the end of the month, I will have a treadmill too. I know I can do this, I just need to keep my head in the game.

Yes, I just quoted High School Musical. 

>^..^<

*This job would be great if it wasn't for the fucking customers.* ~ r. graves - Clerks

Let's put the "fun" in funeral.

We are gathered here today to say goodbye to Carrie. She was a loving person, caring, and all around good person.  She had one really big flaw.  She lacked in self confidence.  

Wow.  I really hope I don't have to, write my own eulogy. I sat here for almost 20 minutes trying to think of something to say.

This blog is basically going to be made of my ramblings with the my new self. I joined "Mighty Miramichi"s Biggest Loser" contest again.  It starts on the 24th.  I can't wait to see how much of my hard work has been flushed down the toilet since October.  My guess is - all of it.

I will be posting about my progress with the challenge, and obstacles I come across while on this 12 week journey.  

If you want to read about this, by all means fill your boots. But if not, it's no skin off my back.  I am doing it for me and no one else.  

If you lasted this long, thanks.  I hope I don't  bore you to bits in the future!

>^..^<

*If God had intended us not to masturbate he would've made our arms shorter* - g. carlin