Too cool!

One more pound down since Monday! I am completely surprised about that, since I had such a bad stressful week and was so lazy on my 4 days off. So a total of 7 pounds lost and 1.5 inches off my waist in 6 weeks--about what I hoped for. I have a goal of 10 pounds lost by March 23, and not only do I think that is very doable, but I think I can even kick it up a notch. I am going to an event out of town at the end of March and I would love to lose 10 pounds before that. Plus it's getting to be spring here, so I am always more active when the weather is nice.

Someone recommended a new site this morning


It is a lot like the Weight Watchers Online site except it keeps track of the nutrition values, not points (hatesss Points). And it's free. I really like it since it has almost everything you eat already in there, and if not you can add an item once and then it is always there.

Today I have to clean the kitchen, finish putting my recipe file back together and fold 7 baskets of laundry from last week. And plan a presentation for Wednesday, fill out a job application, answer 4 work e-mails, enter 19 grant orders and format a mass mailing. Vacations really throw me of my regular routine! But first I am going to walk 4 miles on the treadmill and watch UK stomp on Vandy!

Oh yeah, and I'm crossing everything I have for Jennifer Hudson on tonight's Oscar's!

Too bad!

My husband is in so much trouble!

You know what time of year it is, right? That season when strangers tease you as you enter the store, neighbors ring your doorbell at odd times, co-workers accost you in the hallway?

Yep, Girl Scout cookie time. Yesterday the "cookie mom" at work brought in all the boxes that had been ordered by our staff. We all talked and laughed about how many boxes she had, how hard she was working, how late she stayed up organizing orders, how "bad" we all were for even ordering them, and all the while I was snickering inside "I'm not bad. I didn't even order any. I wasn't even tempted. I am so strong."

So this afternoon I was in the staff room and my husband comes in and says "Try these." It was an opened box of the sugar free brownie bites, so I thought OK, it is sugar free and small, and maybe it will be a good alternative if I am looking for a chocolate fix. They were not bad, but not really worth the calories and fat either. But then he says, holding up a bag, "And these are MINE!" He had 2 boxes of thin mints and tagalongs in there! And he proceeds to leave the room.

WHAT? He is on a strict no-caffeine diet, and we just got finished not buying all that junk at the grocery.

And for the record, I have always hated Girl Scout cookies. Small, overpriced boxes filled with bland, waxy coated cookies. But as I continued working, the boxes were mocking me, calling my name, daring me to open the lid. I couldn't stand it! So I had two Somaos--mmm...peanutbutterandchoclateandcookiecrust. A few minutes later he came back in and opened the box himself, and I had another. Damn him.
Now I am thirsty, and what goes better than milk with cookies.
But we only have 2% here.
Oh well, one glass won't hurt me.
Oh look, there is extra milk left in the glass.
Two more cookies should finish it off...

OK, I'm feeling sick--I have got to get out of here--this is too much! Since the laptop battery is dying, I pack up and head to the car to recharge. On my way out, someone is filling the candy tin...and there are Sweet Tarts in there. Sour, tiny, pure sugar and they jump into my hand.

Apparently I'm not really that strong. Little bitty cookies can knock me out cold, and candy does a jig as I fall.

But I am strong enough to kick my husband's ass when he gets home tonight. He better hope the cookies add a little extra padding.

Too long

...at the store! Between yesterday and today, I have spent more time at the grocery store than I ever dreamed was possible. Four hours to read labels, count portions, compare prices, debate nutrition...enough to drive me crazy. And did ya know good for you food is waaaay more expensive? I could have gotten 3 boxes of Crunchy Sugary Floaties for the price I paid for my one small box of Kashi Go Lean Crunch, and we spent almost $8.00 on grapes, instead of a $2.00 bag of chips. But now we have lots of good food, stuff even my husband will eat, and I got to hear Clay singing over the loudspeaker. Yeah, I stopped in the middle of the aisle to listen.

What. The store was loud.

Don't tell me you have never done that.

While I was there, I stocked up on my new favorite thing:



Suave Radiant Brunette Shampoo

I have tried them all: Bed Head, Pantene, John Freida, Tresemme and yeah, they got my hair clean but this one actually does what it says. Every morning it looks like I have just left the salon: shiny, deep, layered color, and so soft. Smells good too!




And finally, one more pound down! WHOO HOO!
ahem...I was hoping for more as much as I worked last week, but at least it was a loss.

Too many

...doctor's appointments. And since I have another one next week, I thought this would be a good time to look back on where I am and what we are trying to do.

I have a medical condition that runs in my family and I have always known having children may be difficult, but I didn’t really think it would be that hard—I know lots of people with this condition that had children with relative ease. But after 3 years of trying, it’s not happening for us. Last summer we finally decided to take a more aggressive approach—time, money and health is eventually going to run out on us. So I made an appointment and the earliest time that was available was November 17--the day I was invited to go to New York and see Clay on Regis and Kelly, of course—and waited.

Friday, November 10: Bloodwork and tests for the appointment on Nov. 17—6 vials! I felt like I should have eaten a whole cow to replenish myself after that, but I didn’t.

Friday, November 17: Internist appointment, and guess what—I had a migraine. So no progesterone shot like planned, but she did read the bloodwork and more referrals were needed. I also went on labetalol for the migraines, as I was having them too frequently.

Tuesday, November 21: Met with nutritionist to discuss food plans, decided to try cutting out white stuff, with the occasional indulgence.

Friday, December 15: A progesterone shot to get me started. But there will be no more—I had a very bad reaction, and almost missed my vacation in Michigan the next week.

Wednesday, December 27: First endocrinologist appointment. She pescribed 2000mg of glucophage for PCOS.

Thursday, December 28: Internist and fasting bloodwork for the endo. No migraines in a month and I’ve lost 5 pounds.

Wednesday, January 3: Started doing 30 minutes yoga and 15 minutes of hand weights each day.

Tuesday, January 9: Test results: no diabetes or thyroid problems. But yes to insulin resistance and APLS, which I knew, but they wanted to see for themselves. Glucophage will help with the IR and the labetalol may help with the APLS, but we will treat that when I get pregnant.

Thursday, February 1: First fertility specialist appointment. She took a very detailed history including height (I grew an inch since high school!) and weight, talked for a long time about all the options and wants to be conservative. She is not concerned about my age or history, that weight loss along with the glucophage will be the best chance of a successful pregnancy. If we are not pregnant by July, then more aggressive intervention will be discussed. Also did a full pelvic exam—OUCH!

Friday, February 2: Started back on exercise bike 60 minutes a day. Will alternate with the treadmill at work when I can.

Friday, February 9: Test results: no ovarian, cervical or uterine cancer—THAT'S GOOD! Also a personal trainer came to the house and gave me advice based on the equipment we have here and at work. The plan is 60 minutes on treadmill 3 days a week, 60 minutes on bike 2 days a week, 30 minutes on 4 alternate days of yoga or balance ball, and hand weights anytime I am watching TV.

Wednesday is a follow-up with the endocrinologist, I’m sure there will blood taken and lots of questions, but basically it is to make sure the gluco is doing what it needs to be doing.

Overall, I am very happy with the plans—the weight can’t come of quick enough and July can’t get here soon enough, but I need to practice patience, I guess.

Off to visit the bike!

Too happy!

How awesome were those Grammys?! I was so hapy for the Dixie Chicks I cried. Really. Real tears, tissues, runny nose and everything.

Whoo hoo! 2 more pounds gone since Friday! I was so frustrated when I weighed myself after all the work I did last week and the scale didn't move. I blamed it on my Super Bowl gluttony and making so much of my favorite snack at work that there were leftovers all week. Truth is I was not that bad, and the work just had not caught up with me yet.

I missed the treadmill today as I spent my afternoon in the classroom, so it was the bike for me when I got home. Have I told you I hate that bike? Well, I do. But I discovered a new way to kill my thighs--it's all in the placement of the feet. Ouch!

Off to make dinner and swoon over Jack for the next two hours.
gah, what a great day!

Too funny!

Oh yeah, and apparently I have GROWN an inch! I can't remember the last time I had my height measured, but I'll take it. :)

Too young...

to be home on a Friday night, typing on the computer. Tonight I cleaned out and organized my cookbooks. Tomorrow I am sorting our tax info. Yesterday I updated our emergency numbers and address books.
I am so old. And so boring.

But as long as I am taking inventory, here is what else I did this week:
Monday: stationary bike for 55 minutes, yoga for 30 minutes
Tuesday: yoga for 30 minutes, weights for 10 minutes
Wednesday: treadmill for 55 minutes, yoga for 1 hour, weights for 10 minutes
Thursday: treadmill for 30 minutes, balance ball for 30 minutes, yoga for 30 minutes
Friday: balance ball for 30 minutes, stationary bike for 45 minutes, weights for 10 minutes

And ding dang it--the scale didn't move! I feel great, I am sleeping better than ever and have tons of energy during the day, but wow, that is frustrating. grrrrr! Next week I better have lost twice as much...

On a much happier note, I got some most excellent test results back today. One that I didn't even know was being run. That's how all doctor's should do it--take what they need, don't tell you about it, run the test and then let you know you're OK. That way you don't have time to worry about it. Woo wee...that would have been tough if I had been thinking about it all week!

Too excited!!

So I went to a new doctor on Thursday, and we now have a plan! Not just hoping and trying and wishing, but steps and methods and a timeline for getting pregnant. Whoo hoo! It’s just what I was wanting, what we were wanting: low cost, easy to implement, non-invasive and effective. I have heard these things worked for a lot of people, and didn’t doubt it, but it was so good to hear it from a professional. I was amazed that before she even did any exams or tests we sat and talked in her office, listening to me give full answers and letting me ask questions of my own. It’s a good thing, cause I wouldn’t have liked her nearly as much after the exam – that was painful!

And of course it will work by the summer, because that is when I am supposed to start a new job and hit the road to see Clay.

Y’all can thank me when tickets go on sale…

Too bad :(

I have to get back on the bike. Ding dang it, I hate that bike. Pedaling or elliptical, I hate it. Bor.ing. Repetitive. Tedious. And it usually makes my butt hurt. Not like the yoga that I have come to love, that makes me hurt in a good way and I feel so good afterwards that I scrub the kitchen floor. I thought I was doing so well, doing the right thing, and I was starting to see results – 4 pounds lost in 3 weeks! – but I was told to do more aerobics and less strength. Yea, yea, makes sense. But I love my yoga! And I hate that bike. But I am a good little patient, so off to the dungeon I go. Thank goodness for TiVo…

Too long

WOW! It was May the last time I blogged. Unbelievable!

I decided to revive this since there are lots of things going on in my life, and some people have wanted to come along for the ride, so this is the place. This won't be a pretty blog or a huge blog or a ranked blog -- there are lots of people that can do that much better than I -- but it will be my story and hopefully a bit entertaining as I take you with me to Clay Aiken concerts, culinary delights, Target road trips, doctors appointments, TV marathons and housekeeping adventures. I am hoping to lose lots of things and gain some others along the way.