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Yeah, I know I haven’t been updating lately. Mostly it’s because I’m embarrassed that I have nothing successful to report. I’ve been just plain lazy. Although, yesterday I did get off my bum and take a great hike in the mountains with the pooch and a friend. It was pretty strenuous for my fitness level (feeling it in the butt today). Today was the last irish dance practice until September so I ‘ll just have to make better efforts to practice on my own through the summer months.

Anyway, on to the explanation of my post title - we are taking a trip to a Jamaican resort in October so now I have all the more reason to get my fanny in gear which means journaling, staying within points and working out! :)  I’m on the 15 week count down!

Jennette has lost 192 lbs! Check it out in this video and read her new book:

My friend invited me to a Jazzercise class tonight. It was fun and the workout level was manageable for me and my (lack of) skill. Has anyone else tried Jazzercise? I like that it was close to my house - 2 minute drive. They let you try the first week for free so I didn’t have to pay anything. I do so much better with exercise when I have something regularly scheduled - like my Irish Dance classes on Saturdays. So.. I am debating if I want to join or not. There is no contract or anything, just a monthly fee. We’ll see…

As far as staying in points today, I did a pretty good job by planning ahead and including snacks, although I didn’t get the healthy guidelines as evidenced by the fact that I had chicken for every meal. ;p

Breakfast  -  4pts (Chicken)

Lunch - 8 pts (Chicken & rice

Snack - 4 pts (banana, cracker w/ laughing cow cheese)

Dinner - (Chicken cordon blue & green salad)

180 lbs

Up 2 lbs from last week.

Up 6 lbs over my lowest weight.

Bottom line - I need to get serious. I say I am serious then I do things like eat a million sweets at the work potluck and sit on my butt when I planned all day to get some activity in.  I don’t know where the motivation has gone. It’s in there somewhere.. and I’m just having a hard time finding it.

After my disaster yesterday including the Starbucks point indulgence, I am proud to say that today was on-plan, on point target and 100% guilt free. Hubby and I had crepes yesterday morning so I had some of the leftovers for breakfast. The crepes are so thin that they are only one point each. Then I sliced 2-3 ripe strawberries in each one and topped them with 5 calorie fat-free reddi whip. YUM! 2 of them made a perfectly filling 4-point breakfast and then I had one more for an 2 point evening treat.I highly recommend the Redd-Whip if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s also really great on sugar-free hot cocoa.

My great day ended with a walk with the dog and husband. This is something we regularly do when the weather is nice and it’s finally stopped raining and started to warm up! Yay!

Tomorrow I am planning a dinner out with one of my best friends. We haven’t decided the place yet so I can’t pre-plan what to order , but I’m going to try to stick to 2-3 points for the morning and 5-6 for afternoon so I will have a nice 15 point allocation for eating out at a restaurant. Planning ahead for the win!

The strawberries and creme frappuccino is 9 points my friends - for the small (tall.. whatever). It’s yummy, but seriously I don’t think there’s a single strawberry in it. I can have a milk shake for the same number of points! Stay away! Better yet, make your own at home with real fruit and skim milk for half the calories!

I am struggling with the motivation to get moving on my weight loss plan. Today was just an all around bad day. PMS compounded by an argument with the hubby led to me feeling like I “deserved” a treat so I wound up at Starbucks. Now I’m just feeling bloated and mad at myself. Tomorrow is a new day.

Exactly one year ago I had my most consistent success.  From weeks 12 - 21 I consistently had a loss every single week. Since I have saved all my journals in an excel spreadsheet I decided to go back to those weeks and print them. My plan is to review what I ate and how I exercised during that time and try to re-create the success I had. Just skimming over my journals I am able to see the many smarter choices I was making then - healthy snacks in the afternoon, more fruits and veg , etc… I did it then. There’s no reason I can’t do it now. It’s just a matter of recommitting; exactly what I am doing. Here’s to a better Tuesday!

It’s official - I have graduated with my master’s degree. No more school!!! Yay! I’m also done with the school year and my one year teaching contract. I’ve also decided not to go back to work full-time. I prefer my crazy schedule of freelance work and part time interpreting and teaching during the school year.   With the craziness of the last 8 months I have not made my weight loss a priority. I was proud of maintaining for the first 7 months, but in the last month I have literally lost control. Stress eating and lack of exercise caught up with me and I am now about 5 lbs over my lowest weight.

BUT I am starting fresh. I am back to regular journaling, exercising and blogging And I’m looking forward to it!

2 eclairs

1 twix candy bar

2 chocolate chocolate chip cookies

all in one day. ;p Stress eating at its worst! The good news is I just got word from my graduate chair that I am finally approved for graduation. Hooray!

I enjoyed Swizzlepop’s list and wanted to make one of my own:

My awesome list (a list of things about my life that are awesome!):

1.  I have a wonderful husband. I love being married to him more and more each day.

2.  I have the cutest dog ever. He is always happy to see me and and he is well-behaved for the most part.

3. I have a great job that I love and I am good at what I do.

4. We have a nice house with great neighbors on all sides.

5. Even though I have a list of many things I want, I don’t really need anything.

6. I am generally healthy.

7. I am also graduated with a Master’s Degree.

8. I have a great family and extended family, including in-laws.

9. I have pretty great hair, when I actually take the time to style it.

10. I have a lot of hobbies that I consider talents; music, dancing, photograhpy…

11. I have been able to travel and see some pretty cool places in this world.

12. I like to learn and to teach others.

13. I think I am a good friend.

14.  Even though I’m not at goal, I have maintained a 20 lb weight loss through a stressful year.

15. I set goals and reach them.

Let the countdown begin!

9 days until all my graduate work must be submitted ><

10 more days of teaching

19 days until Graduation!

27 days until my friends and I spend a girl’s weekend in Chicago

After that I am looking forward to a little “me” time which will include a renewed dedication to counting points, some experimentation in the kitchen, getting reacquainted with exercise and finally LOSING again. I am so glad I lost some weight last summer because the stress of this school year would surely have done me in if I hadn’t gotten into some better habits. I am lucky to have maintained despite the craziness and the slacking off. I will be back on plan faithfully and back in the losing mode very soon!