Almost Spring Break

Wow, this semester has felt kind of looney. We have a lot of stuff going on with the kids as well as a new job for me, newly full time teaching for my husband, weight loss, home improvements, oh, and did I mention I'm a full time student? Sometimes sitting and writing feels so - blah. I do so much writing already.

Okay, enough whining and crying.

So how am I? I'm doing great!! It feels really good to be weighing in the 185 range. I've started to run which has been AMAZING. I've never liked to run. If you ask my dad he'll tell you that I just don't like to sweat. That's true. It's different now though because I can do it. I couldn't do it before but I can now. I run about 3-4 times a week and can run about 1 mile without stopping. It's taken me several weeks to work up to that and I probably pushed myself harder than I should have.

I am upset with myself this week though. I haven't been running because 1) the time change means my safe, pre-mapped out route isn't open at the only time I can run and 2) we've had non-stop pouring rain for over a week now. My friend Fernando told me I needed to get out there anyway because "runners run in all sorts of conditions" and that's true. I'm a casual runner now and don't care to get drenched. You should see this rain. Today it hailed so much that my lawn looks like it got a fresh blanket of snow. Maybe I should just get a jogging stroller to push my little guy in, weather permitting, because the stroller I have now I would probably hurt myself on. Any other suggestions?

I'm able to eat pretty much whatever I want at this point, however I still DO NOT tolerate eggs. If they're cooked in something like bread it's no big deal. But scrambled, hard boiled, fried, quiche.... no thanks. :)

SORRY!

Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since I've posted. It's been a crazy month with a lot going on. Iv'e thought about my blog plenty and keep planning to write, but between being back to work, moving, and now writing papers for school, I just haven't made time.

As far as my weight loss is concerned, I'm still decreasing though not as rapidly these last several weeks. In fact, since I've gone back to work I hadn't lost anything until yesterday and I finally saw a 5 pound decrease. What has been happening, I believe, is that with the new increase in activity my body has been holding on to whatever it can and not letting pounds go until I stabilized a little. Well I've been back to work for nearly 3 weeks now so it's nice to finally see some movement on the scale. I'm at 201 now, so just a little over a pound until I'm finally BELOW 200. My first goal was to lose 50 lbs. My second is to get to 199. My third is to lose 100 lbs, and my last is to get to my goal weight.

I need a new picture so I will be working on that this week. I got a new computer too and I need to order a cable to get pics off my camera and onto my Macbook since I no longer have a memory card reader. Booooo!

For now I must scamper off to bed to be ready for work on the morning. Thrilling.

That Poor Dear

Today I went grocery shopping. It's a task I actually enjoy now as I can look at food, reminisce, and move along. I went to look at the pastas... yum! But no. I also saw the soda... delicious! But nope. There was an endcap of chips and cheez-whiz... oh boy! Um, no, not that either. I did not buy myself cookies, cakes, ice cream, smoked gouda & crackers, pizza pockets, etc, but I did get a bottle of water.

As I was leaving I saw a girl about my age, perhaps a little older, getting out of her car. She was quite heavy but the thing that struck me was her oxygen tank she had to carry with her. Of course I do not know her circumstances, perhaps she has a lung disease or some other issue, but I can't help but put myself in her shoes and wonder when I, too, would need an oxygen tank had I not had gastric bypass. I would get winded halfway through one shopping trip and now I call it an easy day if I only have 5 errands to run while toting kids along. I easily go through my day without thinking about it but days like today happen and I remember where I came from and how far I've come so quickly.

I've stated over and over about the freedom from weight and I truly mean it. When I went to Target the other day I looked at the clothes and thought - I can actually shop in regular sizes and not bound to the PLUS. I'll probably have to get an XL but the point is I am able to shop in the regular cute sections and not have to find my way to the back of the women's clothes area next to the maternity wear. (Oh, this is CUTE! Oh, it's maternity... of course it is.)

This picture I weighed in at 219.4. I'm wearing my size 16 jeans which I haven't worn since I was abou t 17 or 18.