Wow where did the time go!

Hello,

My posting has gotten sparse due to my life getting a little more crazy.  I am taking an on-line teaching course and it's eating up a lot of my time.  In any case, lets take a quick look at what I've been up to.  I have been successfully getting my butt to the gym 4 days a week.  I was sore this week after a fabulous power yoga session.  Felt great.  My big challenge with my January focus has been the eating well part.  I find myself reaching for quick fixes, nutritionally void, calorie dense foods.  In this last week of January, can you believe it already, I will really be putting all my focus into my eating.  I will jot down everything

I put into my mouth, not necessarily count the calories just write it down.  I have a huge problem with stress eating, so it's time to get that in check.  The next 10 days are supremely stressful but I know that eating crap is not going to make that better.  I need to focus, keep my goals at the front of my mind.  I have been losing slowly this month but really feel like I am just spinning my wheels.  Time to get to work again. 

Well, I am off to do homework and write report cards!  Hope life is treating you all well.

Cheers!
Leah

Weigh In Saturday; a week in review.

This week has come with big ups and downs!  As I sit here looking back over my week I am proud of all that I have accomplished even though there were some pretty big road blocks along the way this week.  I weighed in this morning down 3lbs, sitting at 256lbs.  I still have 4lbs to lose to get back to my pre-holiday weight but I am very happy with this progress. 

When I look back at my goals for this month

Sleep.  Eat well. Be active.

I think I did a pretty good job working towards that this week.  With the exception of Thursday, I followed through on my plan.  Thursday we went out for Mexican and I slept horribly because my brain was just filled with thoughts, it was also the day of the memorial so I am going to give myself a little slack for that one.  

Last weekend after, I wrote up my post I took the time to plan out our meals for the week.  This was great for both my husband and I.  We didn't have to worry about what to make for dinner it was already planned.  It made it easier for us to get dinner assembled.  It also allowed me to see before we went shopping how many days I would need to plan a lunch and how many could just be leftovers.  Planning meals was a great success.  

Being active has been pretty easy, we enjoy going to the gym.  That part has seem to come more naturally for us which is fantastic!  Its a stress reliever for both of us.  My attitude and outlook are always better after a good workout! 

Sleep - this one is a little more challenging then you would think given the fact that I love to sleep.  But aiming to get enough sleep and actually being able to get to sleep are two very different things.  I am working my way back into a routine, where I read for 20 minutes and then go to bed.  It usually helps me fall asleep fast but some nights this week I was sleeping but just not restful sleep if you know what I mean.  

Next week I have more of the same in plan.  Getting up for work will be easier since I am back into my routine.  

How was your week?  Do you take regular count of where you are at with your goals?  

Cheers! 

Leah

Sorry I changed the font colour to black and then you couldn't see it.  Oooops!

Grief and Food

I didn't want to be a 'debbie downer' on the first day back but still feel I should share this detail with you all and maybe get some advice along the way.  As the holiday season started, my very first principal suddenly passed away.  I am truly heartbroken over the loss of such a great man.  Today, I was given permission to go to my old school for a memorial that was being held.  It was great comfort to be there with my friends and celebrate such a great life.  However, as I grieve this loss, I am finding that the healthy things that normally relieve my stress, such as exercising are not helping.  I find myself reaching for food more frequently then I was before.  Anyone, have tips for kicking this comfort food habit to the curb?  I know as time passes I will get back to 'normal' and hopefully with the memorial being done now,  I can begin to have some closure.  

Leah

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope that 2011 with bring you good health and plenty of happiness. I am so glad to be back here and ready to get on with living the best life I possibly can.  But first lets talk about my holidays......

Over the holidays I had the chance to visit with family and friends and just enjoy being together.  I spent 10 days away from my house and routine, eating other peoples cooking and foods.  Way to many carbs, not enough veg and way way way to many cookies!!!  If I am being completely honest I still did better then I do most years. Not that that excuses the over indulging I did.  In the end, totally not beating myself up for these 7lbs that I gained.  I know they will be gone again in no time.  On to the new year!

I feel like 2011 is going to be awesome!  I am coming off a great high from the holidays.  My heart is filled with love after spending so much time with my family and friends.  I feel so very blessed for the changes that occurred in 2010 and I am exciting about what the future holds.  I am not a New Years resolution kinda girl.  Instead I usually reflect about what I want for myself.  This year most of my reflection revolved around my desire to be happier.  So with that in mind, I brainstormed the things I thought I needed to work on in order to be happier.  I came up with 10 areas of focus: health, finances, marriage, organization, attitude, gratitude, moments, documenting, faith and friendship.  Now I realize some of these are huge topics on their own and others may only make sense to me.  But I am going to focus on one of those areas each month.  Picking small measurable changes that will make me happier.  All this is inspired by the book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben.  I read it last year and was happier just reading about what she had done.  So how does all the above have anything to do with me losing weight.  Well everything actually!  I am more successful at losing weight when I am happy.  I huge part of my baggage is that I am an emotional eater.  I really feel like this will treat the root of the problem as oppose the symptoms.

 In January, I will be focusing on Health, I have made 3 goals:

Sleep.  Eat well. Be active.  

Get enough to sleep to function without being stressed.  Eat well by putting wholesome food that are prepared at home in my mouth. Plan my meals out. Being active, get back to the gym at least 4 days a week. 

Well I am off to start this year on the right foot.  Meal planning and groceries await!

Cheers!
Leah

Hello readers,

As I head into what is going to be a crazy busy holiday season, I have decided that this will be my last post of 2010.  I will weigh in on January 2nd and take it from there.  It's done me a lot of good to take a break from the blogging not weight wise, nothing has changed at 252 and holding, but mentally.  I am really looking forward to the New Year and all it represents.  Taking some time to look at my goals and plan a route to get there has been wonderful.  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Cheers!
Leah

Sorry about the Hiatus! I have no excuses to offer you.

I have been on a little hiatus and I apologize.  It seems I have lost my drive lately.  All the excuses can't excuse what I've been up to.  Bottom line, I've just been not keeping my priorities strait.  I am down a ridiculous 0.6lbs after a month off of my routine.  I find myself regularly self sabotaging and coming up with stupid excuses for not getting my butt to the gym.  It seems that the more people notice the change, the more my progress slows.  I need to do some internal work over the next few weeks and figure out why I keep doing this to myself.  The main difference between this time and every other time I have worked on my weight is that I am recognizing it before my journey is derailed.  Now the digging must begin.....

Lazy Week

This week was a lazy week.  I ate well but skipped the gym everyday except for Wednesday and I have to admit, I feel better.  I needed some me time, away from the gym, to re-energize and focus.  I did managed to lose almost a pound.  I weighed in at 252.6lbs this morning giving me a 0.9lbs loss for the week.. I'll take it.  So close to a 40lbs loss!  Next week?   

At work, I finally managed to get my core french program running the way I want it to.  Kids wrapped up a dance unit that I was getting bored with.  And I almost have a class website sorted out.  I just feel like I got a lot done.  Oh and I got my class cleaned up last night, most specifically my desk, which had become a mountain of papers and things that I could not find room for.  

Most exciting news all week though came on Wednesday night, my very best friend in the whole world, she's like the sister I never had, told me that she got the call that he agency had a child for her.  I got to find out that she will be getting a beautiful 3 year old boy before Christmas.  Words simply could not express my happiness for her and her husband.  After years of struggling with infertility she is finally becoming a mother in just a few short weeks.  I, as the honourary aunt, look forward to spoiling this little boy like crazy! A trip back to my hometown in December will be necessary to help welcome him to the family. 

Next week I'll be back to my regular routine of hitting the gym and eating well.  Oh and as a side note, I have become addicted in a very short time frame to Tim Horton's Oatmeal.  It's delicious and it's good for you.  Gotta love that! 

Have a great weekend everyone!
Cheers!
Leah