New Year's Goals, East Coast version

I don't know if I really have "goals", I suppose I should make an attempt to come up with something measurable.

I did attend the new session of the weight management class at Curves today. They have a new plan out, so we watched a video about it. It's basically similar to the old plan, you do a week of 1200 calories, and then bump up to 4 weeks of 1500 calories, then take two weeks "off" at 2000-2500 calories, all in an effort to keep your metabolism revved up and burn fat rather than muscle. It again emphasizes lean protein and whole grains, the difference this time is they've set up an exchange system. They have suggested menus for each meal and snack, but they're not specific, and they have more info on how to substitute equivalent foods to meet your tastes. For example, breakfast might be 1 starch + 1 protein, and then you check the list of foods to see what starch and protein you want. They do tell you calorie and nutrion guidelines, so you figure out portions and add favorite foods that might not be on the list. There's also a list of "free" vegetables, drinks, and condiments.

I was trying to go back to the original 1200 cal week from the original plan, but I've not been succeeding this week. I'm a little concerned that I've lost my mojo, but on the other hand, the more mindful I am about eating, the more I've been loosing, even if I don't diet strictly. And that's overall good - they made a big deal about patience and the time it will take to loose a substantial amount of weight. And how it's a lifestyle change. Definitely still working on that part of it.

Other goals? Keep the house cleaner, knit more, stamp more. Basically trying to keep up with life and not feel like I'm dropping so many balls.

New Year's Goals

Ok, so I am going to keep it simple with what I want this year...
1) Keep losing weight (I'm not going to specify an amount just that I keep going down even if gradual and that I at least don't go up).
2) Strike some sort of balance between work and home needs (rather than feeling guilty all around or disappointed that I am not on top of any of it)
3) Doug & Andy be potty trained (I am really hoping much earlier than next December...but lately I am feeling like it is somewhat my fault because it feels like we don't have time to work on it because we are always so busy and the times that I am planning to concentrate on it we either get sick or end up traveling)
So three goals. They are probably not as specific as the "experts" would recommend, but those are my goals.

Falling off the wagon

I don't know about everyone else, but I've not exactly been watching what I eat this holiday season. Or rather, I've watched myself eat a whole lot of stuff.

I did really well for the first week, than the last week has gone downhill. Too many yummy leftovers. Too many lunches that weren't really planned and became an afternoon of bits and rests - a bit of this and the rest of that.

Monday, I'm planning on going to the gym, and climbing back on the diet horse. I don't want to have to get out the bigger clothes again! Anybody with me?

Snow bound

Ok, so it's been more then a week since we've had "normal" weather. We had 9" of snow yesterday before it started snowing, and we're supposed to get another 4-5" today (its' been snowing off and on all morning so far. I'm starting to feel a little trapped, but at the same time I kind of don't want it to clear up till Friday so that Christmas really feels more cozy. I have a friend that was supposed to get a flight out from the airport today, but I don't know if she even made it there let alone had the flight. Most flights have been cancelled because of not enough de-icer. I'm hoping that if she doesn't make it out that we can pick her up on Thurs. for Christmas at least (she lives 3 blocks from here). It's her first Christmas alone since her husband died in June. However, I think we'll be boring and she'd enjoy seeing her friend she was going to visit more.

So far we've had power and been doing ok. I have work to do this week, and John's home on vacation anyway. We spent yesterday at the neighbor's for quite a while which helped break up my beginning stir-craziness. :)

Twisted Sister

So yesterday I found out that I am certifiably the "twisted sister." I went to the orthopedic place to find out about my scoliosis. They took a whole torso x-ray this time. Apparently my spine looks a little like a snake (twists to the left, then the right, then the left) so that my curves balance each other out. Since my head is squarely above my hips (good to know) and apparently scoliosis doesn't usually progress in adults I don't have to return unless I start having problems.
So at least that is one thing I can cross off my list.

Lack of sleep -:> coughing

just a little reminder that I'm still alive, and I've finally succumbed to the first chest cold of the year. I figure it's inevitable with young children, but it still sucks. I'm not helping by staying up late and getting up almost early (aka early enough to get us out the door and to school on time, but not early enough to get much else accomplished).

The worst part is there isn't much that can be done. I'm not really coughing much, but there's that tightness in the chest and the nasty taste that comes up when you do cough.

Finally, there's the semi-friendly but mostly complaining reminder that some of my co-workers (mostly my dept mgr) who would really rather I be at home and not coughing anywhere in his vicinity. Like I wouldn't rather be home in bed! But by the time I've dropped off the kids and figured how to pick them all up again and factored in the dogs and whether or not M will be at home, I'm really better of staying at work and drinking enough tea that I'm constantly running down the hall to the bathroom.

Winning while Loosing

Hey, I won $185 for coming in second in the contest! The winner won the pot that all the entrants contributed too, and the owner matched the pot, so that amount was split 2/3, 1/3 between the next two winners.

Woo Hoo!