Tummy bugs stink. But making mac n cheese and watching Cold Case Files on tv isn't the worst way to spend a sick day.
That is all.
That is all.
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stitchin and bitchin
confessions of a freckled knitter
05 December 2009 @ 09:10 am
So I think my weight loss plan is working. I'm almost under 210 lbs! I've been cutting my grains-consumption to two generous servings a day, and filling in the rest of meals with lean protein, fruits, veggies, healthy fats and low-fat dairy. When I consciously cut out grains (even whole-grains), it was amazing to see how much I was eating before without really thinking... I was definitely snacking on them all the time. Now I'm replacing that with fruits & veggies for snacks.
Work has really been picking up. Year end is upon us, which means everyone has tax and HR questions, which means my department is in overdrive. Oh well! The days go by faster.
We have nothing of substance planned for this chilly Saturday, and I am totally okay with that. We've been running around like crazy people this week... we'll see what the day has in store.
Work has really been picking up. Year end is upon us, which means everyone has tax and HR questions, which means my department is in overdrive. Oh well! The days go by faster.
We have nothing of substance planned for this chilly Saturday, and I am totally okay with that. We've been running around like crazy people this week... we'll see what the day has in store.
21 November 2009 @ 03:25 pm
Holy moly! I am horrible at updating. I read everyone's journals every day, but I never get around to updating my own. A lot has certainly happened since I last posted in September. Important things first:
My dad was in the hospital again due to cancer complications, but he's out and doing well now. His cancer affects his blood, which can cause clots, which can cause strokes. He was mowing the lawn a week ago and had a mini-stroke. He didn't know who he was, where he was... luckily it came back to him, but it was pretty spooky. He was in the hospital for a good 5 days. They ran a lot of brain scans, heart tests, and artery checks to make sure he doesn't have any existing issues or blood clots. For now he seems all-clear, but they are keeping an eye on him (which is good). I'm not too much of a religious person, but I had a CRAZY religious experience when I was praying for him one night: I was outside in the cold having a little talk with whoever was listening, and I asked not to have him taken away from us yet, because he's still needed here... and all of a sudden a heat duct vented next to me and I was bathed in warmth. Coincidence of course, but still... talk about a surreal experience!
I have been losing weight and it is feeling amazing. I weigh in at approximately 215 right now, which is 30 lbs less than a year ago. I am eating 85% vegetarian (I still eat seafood and chicken very occasionally) and trying to watch my sodium and sugar. It's working... it feels nice to see results and to feel better when you cut so much crap out of your diet. I order vegetarian dishes at restaurants or make healthier meals at home without even thinking now, it has just become part of my routine.
As for wedding stuff, my tastes completely changed regarding the wedding planning since I posted about it last. My wedding dress is still the same, but the other stuff is different! No more pale lavender purple dresses. The bridesmaids dresses, invitations, flowers and everything are already picked out, and the colors are "sangria" (a bright raspberry purply-hot pink that David's Bridal offers), hot pink, and lime green. The ladies will have hot pink and lime bouquets, while the gents will have black tuxedos, "sangria" vests and neckties, and lime green boutonnieres.
The theme of the reception is going to be two things: whimsical old-timey and garden flowers. The dining tables will not have numbers but will be named after flowers (rose, lily, sunflower, etc), and the table centerpieces will be mounds of garden moss with hot pink gerber daisies and tall blades of grass "growing" out of the moss. There will be whimsical old-timey touches as well: in lieu of traditional favors, guests have unlimited use of a photobooth (complete with silly old fashioned props), and a candy buffet with glass apothecary jars filled with candy will be available. I've been browsing craft shops and even thrift stores to find unique one of a kind jars and candy trays, so there will be a random assortment of fun glassware to display the candy. I think we're up to 8 containers so far, but that doesn't hold a lot of candy for 150 people! I'm keeping my eyes peeled for more...
We've picked our florist, photographer, reception venue, DJ, and everything is pretty much all set! It's just hammering out the details at this point. We're getting discounts from the florist and photographer because we are family or friends with the staff. My mom is good friends with the one of the florist's employees, and our photographer hired a new professional photographer last summer: MY COUSIN MABYN! She does amazing work and I cannot WAIT to have her shoot my wedding. Her pictures always come out looking like they belong in Modern Bride or Martha Stewart Bride or some amazing fresh bridal magazine. Even better, she's bringing her favorite co-worker Tim, and they will be shooting the event as a team.
I don't know if I posted this already, but we picked out our wedding rings too. Mine is very simple, dips a little to accommodate my engagement ring's stone, a simple thin platinum band of diamonds. Carl chose simplicity as well, plain polished platinum. They are perfect!
I can't believe Thanksgiving is only 5 days away. This year is going to be very different from other years: my family has always hosted a large gathering of 20-25 people, but this year the majority of the family has other arrangements. Carl's parents were left with less people attending their dinner too, so I figured... why not have them come over to my parents house?! So we're having a nice melding of the families, pre-wedding (which is almost 160 days away, yikes!). Our parents have had dinner together a few times before, and its always nice to know that Carl's folks and my folks get along.
What are everyone's Thanksgiving plans?
My dad was in the hospital again due to cancer complications, but he's out and doing well now. His cancer affects his blood, which can cause clots, which can cause strokes. He was mowing the lawn a week ago and had a mini-stroke. He didn't know who he was, where he was... luckily it came back to him, but it was pretty spooky. He was in the hospital for a good 5 days. They ran a lot of brain scans, heart tests, and artery checks to make sure he doesn't have any existing issues or blood clots. For now he seems all-clear, but they are keeping an eye on him (which is good). I'm not too much of a religious person, but I had a CRAZY religious experience when I was praying for him one night: I was outside in the cold having a little talk with whoever was listening, and I asked not to have him taken away from us yet, because he's still needed here... and all of a sudden a heat duct vented next to me and I was bathed in warmth. Coincidence of course, but still... talk about a surreal experience!
I have been losing weight and it is feeling amazing. I weigh in at approximately 215 right now, which is 30 lbs less than a year ago. I am eating 85% vegetarian (I still eat seafood and chicken very occasionally) and trying to watch my sodium and sugar. It's working... it feels nice to see results and to feel better when you cut so much crap out of your diet. I order vegetarian dishes at restaurants or make healthier meals at home without even thinking now, it has just become part of my routine.
As for wedding stuff, my tastes completely changed regarding the wedding planning since I posted about it last. My wedding dress is still the same, but the other stuff is different! No more pale lavender purple dresses. The bridesmaids dresses, invitations, flowers and everything are already picked out, and the colors are "sangria" (a bright raspberry purply-hot pink that David's Bridal offers), hot pink, and lime green. The ladies will have hot pink and lime bouquets, while the gents will have black tuxedos, "sangria" vests and neckties, and lime green boutonnieres.
The theme of the reception is going to be two things: whimsical old-timey and garden flowers. The dining tables will not have numbers but will be named after flowers (rose, lily, sunflower, etc), and the table centerpieces will be mounds of garden moss with hot pink gerber daisies and tall blades of grass "growing" out of the moss. There will be whimsical old-timey touches as well: in lieu of traditional favors, guests have unlimited use of a photobooth (complete with silly old fashioned props), and a candy buffet with glass apothecary jars filled with candy will be available. I've been browsing craft shops and even thrift stores to find unique one of a kind jars and candy trays, so there will be a random assortment of fun glassware to display the candy. I think we're up to 8 containers so far, but that doesn't hold a lot of candy for 150 people! I'm keeping my eyes peeled for more...
We've picked our florist, photographer, reception venue, DJ, and everything is pretty much all set! It's just hammering out the details at this point. We're getting discounts from the florist and photographer because we are family or friends with the staff. My mom is good friends with the one of the florist's employees, and our photographer hired a new professional photographer last summer: MY COUSIN MABYN! She does amazing work and I cannot WAIT to have her shoot my wedding. Her pictures always come out looking like they belong in Modern Bride or Martha Stewart Bride or some amazing fresh bridal magazine. Even better, she's bringing her favorite co-worker Tim, and they will be shooting the event as a team.
I don't know if I posted this already, but we picked out our wedding rings too. Mine is very simple, dips a little to accommodate my engagement ring's stone, a simple thin platinum band of diamonds. Carl chose simplicity as well, plain polished platinum. They are perfect!
I can't believe Thanksgiving is only 5 days away. This year is going to be very different from other years: my family has always hosted a large gathering of 20-25 people, but this year the majority of the family has other arrangements. Carl's parents were left with less people attending their dinner too, so I figured... why not have them come over to my parents house?! So we're having a nice melding of the families, pre-wedding (which is almost 160 days away, yikes!). Our parents have had dinner together a few times before, and its always nice to know that Carl's folks and my folks get along.
What are everyone's Thanksgiving plans?
27 September 2009 @ 08:06 am
I haven't posted in two months! Wow. Well, there is lots going on to update about.
My wedding dress came in last week! It is more beautiful than I could have imagined. The ivory dress with ivory beading and crystals looks really good, and considering that I ordered it blind without being able to see what it would look like upon arrival... I am pleased. It's exactly what I want. I will have a photodump at the bottom of the entry with pics. :) The dress combined all the elements that I wanted: a long train, a poofy skirt, lots of satin covered buttons down the back, waist-slimming details, and an overall vintage art deco feel. I am definitely happy. I ended up picking a veil out, too. It is ivory-colored, fingertip length (so both tiers are to my elbows), and the bottom of each tier has rhinestone edging (which matches the dress really well). I will wear one of the tiers flipped over my face down the aisle, and my dad will flip it back for me. Aww. :) I also picked out a tiara, but we didnt get a picture of that. It's a headband encrusted with swarovski crystals and art deco filigree designs. It also matches the beading on the dress bodice! Pretty sweet.
I finally bought a spinning wheel. I have been knitting since about 2000/2001, seriously since 2003. I worked in a knitting shop for 4 years. I would see handspun yarns come in for sale, and hardcore knitting customers that had knitting projects using their own handspun yarns, and I was always intrigued. Ever since 2003 I had been researching wheels, which ones were good deals, which ones were overpriced, etc etc etc. We went to this wool festival in Hemlock NY a week ago and this great vendor was selling Ashford Kiwi spinning wheels, slightly modified: the foot pedals have hinges so you can fold the wheel up and store it, and he painted the actual wheel bright colors (mine is a bright Dutch blue). I've only spun a little so far, I'm still learning. I bought a huge bag of wool to practice with in beautiful oranges and reds. We'll see!
We're going back to church, which is the reason I'm going to cut this entry short. There is much more to talk about, but I guess I will just have to post more often. We've been going back to church for about a month now, and it feels really good. Knowing we're getting married there in about 7 months is exciting, and the people there are so nice. It's an Episcopalian church, Christ Church of Rochester. They have a nice website, which they just put up. We go to a forum every week before church that talks about the history of Christianity (the dark periods really), about heretics and witches and persecutions, watch some videos about it and chat... its very interesting!
Well, I have to get showered and ready for that, but as promised:
( Here's the photodump! Wedding dress pictures ahead! )
My wedding dress came in last week! It is more beautiful than I could have imagined. The ivory dress with ivory beading and crystals looks really good, and considering that I ordered it blind without being able to see what it would look like upon arrival... I am pleased. It's exactly what I want. I will have a photodump at the bottom of the entry with pics. :) The dress combined all the elements that I wanted: a long train, a poofy skirt, lots of satin covered buttons down the back, waist-slimming details, and an overall vintage art deco feel. I am definitely happy. I ended up picking a veil out, too. It is ivory-colored, fingertip length (so both tiers are to my elbows), and the bottom of each tier has rhinestone edging (which matches the dress really well). I will wear one of the tiers flipped over my face down the aisle, and my dad will flip it back for me. Aww. :) I also picked out a tiara, but we didnt get a picture of that. It's a headband encrusted with swarovski crystals and art deco filigree designs. It also matches the beading on the dress bodice! Pretty sweet.
I finally bought a spinning wheel. I have been knitting since about 2000/2001, seriously since 2003. I worked in a knitting shop for 4 years. I would see handspun yarns come in for sale, and hardcore knitting customers that had knitting projects using their own handspun yarns, and I was always intrigued. Ever since 2003 I had been researching wheels, which ones were good deals, which ones were overpriced, etc etc etc. We went to this wool festival in Hemlock NY a week ago and this great vendor was selling Ashford Kiwi spinning wheels, slightly modified: the foot pedals have hinges so you can fold the wheel up and store it, and he painted the actual wheel bright colors (mine is a bright Dutch blue). I've only spun a little so far, I'm still learning. I bought a huge bag of wool to practice with in beautiful oranges and reds. We'll see!
We're going back to church, which is the reason I'm going to cut this entry short. There is much more to talk about, but I guess I will just have to post more often. We've been going back to church for about a month now, and it feels really good. Knowing we're getting married there in about 7 months is exciting, and the people there are so nice. It's an Episcopalian church, Christ Church of Rochester. They have a nice website, which they just put up. We go to a forum every week before church that talks about the history of Christianity (the dark periods really), about heretics and witches and persecutions, watch some videos about it and chat... its very interesting!
Well, I have to get showered and ready for that, but as promised:
( Here's the photodump! Wedding dress pictures ahead! )
04 July 2009 @ 10:11 am
First of all, happy 4th of July to all of my American buddies! I hope everyone has a relaxing day, great BBQ food, and remembers how lucky we all are to have life easier than most in this world.
now
( WEDDING STUFF! picture heavy, but oh so worth it! )
now
( WEDDING STUFF! picture heavy, but oh so worth it! )
20 June 2009 @ 08:33 pm
Hello internet! I have not posted in almost two full months, which is really unacceptable.
I cut all my hair off! It's so much lighter for summer and I donated over 10 inches to Locks of Love. Here's a nice picture of how it turned out:
Everyone at work tried to talk me out of it, telling me it would be too drastic, I wouldn't be able to have a cute wedding hairdo next May, etc etc etc. They sure changed their minds when they saw the results. Funny how people are so quick to put anything down, but eat their words as soon as it's more popular to jump ship. Lovely. ;)
I've actually been looking into hairdo options for the wedding. Of course the style would be short and sassy like this, but I may do a formal veil hairband-tiara for the ceremony and a cute birdcage veil for the reception that would just hug my forehead/hair. See, there are options, people!
I made a delicious dinner tonight. A Thai-inspired seafood steampot with mussels, littleneck clams and shrimp! It was amazing and here's the kicker: it was a Weight Watchers recipe. I always thought their recipes tasted like cardboard, but they've really come a long way.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends. :)
I cut all my hair off! It's so much lighter for summer and I donated over 10 inches to Locks of Love. Here's a nice picture of how it turned out:
Everyone at work tried to talk me out of it, telling me it would be too drastic, I wouldn't be able to have a cute wedding hairdo next May, etc etc etc. They sure changed their minds when they saw the results. Funny how people are so quick to put anything down, but eat their words as soon as it's more popular to jump ship. Lovely. ;)
I've actually been looking into hairdo options for the wedding. Of course the style would be short and sassy like this, but I may do a formal veil hairband-tiara for the ceremony and a cute birdcage veil for the reception that would just hug my forehead/hair. See, there are options, people!
I made a delicious dinner tonight. A Thai-inspired seafood steampot with mussels, littleneck clams and shrimp! It was amazing and here's the kicker: it was a Weight Watchers recipe. I always thought their recipes tasted like cardboard, but they've really come a long way.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends. :)
Current Mood: 
full
full25 April 2009 @ 08:22 am
Just thought of this: Know how I stopped posting my weight each Monday because it was getting tedious, and we all probably thought I would start gaining it back (yes, even I was iffy)? When I went to the doctor to get told I have my respiratory infection, they weighed me... and I've lost 12 lbs since January 28 2009! I was 241 in January, and on Thursday I was 229. Last time I posted in here about weight I was stuck at 233 forever. Woohoo.
Today is another completely gorgeous day outside, and I will be stuck inside with my maladies. I already have some activities planned. I'm thinking possibly a Star Wars movie marathon? Or South Park marathon? Some sort of marathon. I also have a coloring book with my awesome Crayola 96 box at the ready. There's just something so soothing about coloring, especially when you're sick...
And of course, if all else fails, video games.
I really wanted to go the zoo this weekend, so everyone else enjoy the nice weather!
Today is another completely gorgeous day outside, and I will be stuck inside with my maladies. I already have some activities planned. I'm thinking possibly a Star Wars movie marathon? Or South Park marathon? Some sort of marathon. I also have a coloring book with my awesome Crayola 96 box at the ready. There's just something so soothing about coloring, especially when you're sick...
And of course, if all else fails, video games.
I really wanted to go the zoo this weekend, so everyone else enjoy the nice weather!
Current Mood: 
headcoldy
headcoldy24 April 2009 @ 07:54 pm
I have an upper respiratory infection! Blech. I went to the doctor Thursday morning (my boss is cool and let me head over with no notice, it was a slow morning at work). The doc said that I have a nasty contagious case and should stay home and rest. So... I have. Thursday my throat was really sore and I slept most of the day. It seems that overnight, it migrated to my sinuses/lungs and now I have a wicked wheezy headcold!
The good news: Carl doesn't work Fridays, and has been pampering me today. He even bought me mint chocolate chip ice cream! We also majorly cleaned the apartment earlier this week, so we were able to put some finishing touches on today without much effort. I can't be sick at home for two days and just sit around all day...
The bad news: I feel like my head will implode at any time, I am now totally buggered when it comes to sick/vacation time at work (2 unexpected off days when I was already pinched for vacation = ouch), and today was the most BEAUTIFUL day of the year so far! 70° out, blue skies, birds chirping... and I had to spend it inside. Sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and longing for the outdoors. Oh well. At least Benson & Stabler kept me company with the Law & Order SVU marathons.
Random: Carl and I have a mutual crush on Stabler. How could we not?
The good news: Carl doesn't work Fridays, and has been pampering me today. He even bought me mint chocolate chip ice cream! We also majorly cleaned the apartment earlier this week, so we were able to put some finishing touches on today without much effort. I can't be sick at home for two days and just sit around all day...
The bad news: I feel like my head will implode at any time, I am now totally buggered when it comes to sick/vacation time at work (2 unexpected off days when I was already pinched for vacation = ouch), and today was the most BEAUTIFUL day of the year so far! 70° out, blue skies, birds chirping... and I had to spend it inside. Sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and longing for the outdoors. Oh well. At least Benson & Stabler kept me company with the Law & Order SVU marathons.
Random: Carl and I have a mutual crush on Stabler. How could we not?
04 April 2009 @ 09:35 am
I found out yesterday that my dad will need to go into chemo treatment sooner than expected. He has a special type of leukemia that usually takes 10+ years to advance to the stage where any action is needed. He was diagnosed about three and a half years ago, so this news came a bit sooner than we were all ready for. I know everyone with cancer has to face it eventually, we just aren't ready to face it yet (is anyone ever really ready?). Luckily he will not need to start treatment until this fall, so he can still enjoy the spring and summer months without having to worry about being stuck inside the house with chemo side effects.
My family is really strong, and I know we will band together to support him and each other. My mom is one of the strongest women I know.
They are not slowing down one bit for this. In fact, they are throwing a cocktail party tonight! Every year they throw a party in honor of Mozart in late winter/early spring for a reason to celebrate in Rochester's dreary weather. It should be fun!
My birthday is Monday, turning the big 2-5! That amazes me... I am definitely getting older. I was talking with my friend Katie the other night. We're both having that crisis when you know you're not in college anymore, and your personality has adjusted accordingly... and we don't know what to do! Ah, the joys of being a 20-something and figuring yourself out. :)
My family is really strong, and I know we will band together to support him and each other. My mom is one of the strongest women I know.
They are not slowing down one bit for this. In fact, they are throwing a cocktail party tonight! Every year they throw a party in honor of Mozart in late winter/early spring for a reason to celebrate in Rochester's dreary weather. It should be fun!
My birthday is Monday, turning the big 2-5! That amazes me... I am definitely getting older. I was talking with my friend Katie the other night. We're both having that crisis when you know you're not in college anymore, and your personality has adjusted accordingly... and we don't know what to do! Ah, the joys of being a 20-something and figuring yourself out. :)
23 February 2009 @ 10:40 pm
My cousin Esther just posted a list of books that BBC recommends to children, and it was fun to remember all the books I read for fun and for class over the years. The ones I have read are bolded:
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (I've read a lot of them, but not ALL)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Alborn
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
How many have you read? :)
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare (I've read a lot of them, but not ALL)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 Ulysses - James Joyce
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Alborn
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
How many have you read? :)
23 February 2009 @ 11:18 am
232.8
I'm going to stop my weekly weight posts, because I don't think anyone really cares and it is getting tedious.
I gained less an a pound since last week (0.6 to be exact), and my muscles ache... so I have reason to believe I'm gaining muscle mass and slimming down inches-wise. I bought a pair of PJ pants at Old Navy on sale in December and I was totally unable to wear them... until recently. They fit with room to spare! So even though I have plateaued recently, I think my body is showing positive results. Weight numbers on the scale are not the be all end all.
I'm writing at this weird time in the morning because I decided to go home sick today. I have a lingering tummy bug that will NOT go away. Here's hoping a day off of work napping and relaxing will cure what ails me (I will put the laptop away after this post, I promise!)
My cousin Frank came by to visit the other day, he was running a local train show in the area (he's from Chicago). It was really nice to see him and catch up. He's getting married next year too, so we're in the same boat...
So much for napping, looks like the apartment complex maintenance guys are next door, banging on pipes with hammers! Loudly! Yay. This always happens to me when I stay home sick from work to sleep. Bah humbug. :)
I'm going to stop my weekly weight posts, because I don't think anyone really cares and it is getting tedious.
I gained less an a pound since last week (0.6 to be exact), and my muscles ache... so I have reason to believe I'm gaining muscle mass and slimming down inches-wise. I bought a pair of PJ pants at Old Navy on sale in December and I was totally unable to wear them... until recently. They fit with room to spare! So even though I have plateaued recently, I think my body is showing positive results. Weight numbers on the scale are not the be all end all.
I'm writing at this weird time in the morning because I decided to go home sick today. I have a lingering tummy bug that will NOT go away. Here's hoping a day off of work napping and relaxing will cure what ails me (I will put the laptop away after this post, I promise!)
My cousin Frank came by to visit the other day, he was running a local train show in the area (he's from Chicago). It was really nice to see him and catch up. He's getting married next year too, so we're in the same boat...
So much for napping, looks like the apartment complex maintenance guys are next door, banging on pipes with hammers! Loudly! Yay. This always happens to me when I stay home sick from work to sleep. Bah humbug. :)
16 February 2009 @ 07:15 am
232.2
So I'm finally losing again after plateauing at a dead 233 for the last two weeks! I haven't been doing much of anything different really, just keeping at it and trying not to stray too far. I decided to start posting a pic of my weight tracking chart each Monday post. I've been weight tracking since early December but only writing in here about it since mid January. It's interesting to see how far I've come!
Carl's sister Colleen and I are tentatively going to meet up at David's Bridal the last week of March (I need to try on bridesmaid dresses, her wedding is in August!) That is definitely great inspiration to keep on track exercise/food-wise.
I really need to get real with myself here. With Valentine's Day this past weekend, I definitely ate more treats and honestly expected to gain weight today. I think the exercises I've done have built more muscle, and working out is paying off and raising my basic resting metabolism, but I need to be careful and not treat myself too much...
Valentine's Day was nice. I gave Carl a really sweet card, and he got me roses! We've also been sharing a sampler of nice chocolates. Mmm. We went out to our favorite diner (Zebbs) and watched History Channel documentaries for a lot of the day. It was perfect for us, very relaxed and simple. I was actually sick on Friday home from work with some sort of tummy bug, so I wasn't in a huge celebratory mood. Major props to Carl for being a good sport and taking good care of me this weekend. :)
Back to another week at the daily grind... I'm really starting to seriously hate my job.
So I'm finally losing again after plateauing at a dead 233 for the last two weeks! I haven't been doing much of anything different really, just keeping at it and trying not to stray too far. I decided to start posting a pic of my weight tracking chart each Monday post. I've been weight tracking since early December but only writing in here about it since mid January. It's interesting to see how far I've come!
Carl's sister Colleen and I are tentatively going to meet up at David's Bridal the last week of March (I need to try on bridesmaid dresses, her wedding is in August!) That is definitely great inspiration to keep on track exercise/food-wise.
I really need to get real with myself here. With Valentine's Day this past weekend, I definitely ate more treats and honestly expected to gain weight today. I think the exercises I've done have built more muscle, and working out is paying off and raising my basic resting metabolism, but I need to be careful and not treat myself too much...
Valentine's Day was nice. I gave Carl a really sweet card, and he got me roses! We've also been sharing a sampler of nice chocolates. Mmm. We went out to our favorite diner (Zebbs) and watched History Channel documentaries for a lot of the day. It was perfect for us, very relaxed and simple. I was actually sick on Friday home from work with some sort of tummy bug, so I wasn't in a huge celebratory mood. Major props to Carl for being a good sport and taking good care of me this weekend. :)
Back to another week at the daily grind... I'm really starting to seriously hate my job.
09 February 2009 @ 07:04 am
233.0
The good news: I maintained my lowest weight so far!
The not-so-good news: My weight has plateaued the last few weeks :( 233.3---233.0---233.0. I have had some sort of weird headcold coming on lately, really bad headaches and I'm super tired. This makes my urge to workout much less frequent. It's also THE most stressful time of the year at work. Today is actually a milestone for my department (releasing new data), which means I will likely get tons and tons of phone calls from my clients about it.
Plateauing weight isn't necessarily all bad. It proves that my body is comfortable at a new weight level. Once I stop feeling sick I will definitely ramp up the exercise, because that really seems to be what makes the difference.
We also need to get the junk food from the Superbowl party out of this place! We hosted a party last week and people didn't eat nearly as much as we hoped. They also wouldn't accept offers to take home unopened bags of chips. Carl was in a party mood and opened a bag of Doritos on Friday night, and so we've been having little amounts here or there... but still. Doritos. :(
The good news: I maintained my lowest weight so far!
The not-so-good news: My weight has plateaued the last few weeks :( 233.3---233.0---233.0. I have had some sort of weird headcold coming on lately, really bad headaches and I'm super tired. This makes my urge to workout much less frequent. It's also THE most stressful time of the year at work. Today is actually a milestone for my department (releasing new data), which means I will likely get tons and tons of phone calls from my clients about it.
Plateauing weight isn't necessarily all bad. It proves that my body is comfortable at a new weight level. Once I stop feeling sick I will definitely ramp up the exercise, because that really seems to be what makes the difference.
We also need to get the junk food from the Superbowl party out of this place! We hosted a party last week and people didn't eat nearly as much as we hoped. They also wouldn't accept offers to take home unopened bags of chips. Carl was in a party mood and opened a bag of Doritos on Friday night, and so we've been having little amounts here or there... but still. Doritos. :(
02 February 2009 @ 07:09 am
233.0
My numbers are continuing to go down. Last Monday I was 233.2, so I will definitely take -0.2 for the week!
I went to Dick's Sporting Goods this past week and got a bundle for $50: an exercise ball, an aerobic step, 3 lb free-weights, and resistance bands. I really just wanted the step since I was sick of using my Wii Fit board, since breaking that would cost $90 as opposed to breaking a plastic step that costs much less. I think it was a good deal! The step is much higher than the Wii Fit board is, so I definitely feel a difference.
I ate decently this past week. Superbowl Sunday is always bad news food-wise, and I had some Doritos and some Carvel ice cream cake for John's birthday (which was actually on that Sunday, too). John also wanted to go to Olive Garden for dinner earlier in the evening, and I actually resisted my urge to get something alfredo-y! I got really yummy garlic red sauce on capellini. Not too shabby.
My jeans do not fit at all anymore, they are way too big! At my heaviest, I was up to a Lane Bryant Venezia jeans size 5 (they do their own sizing system), and I can fit into an old pair of my Venezia size 2 jeans pretty comfortably now. I know I should be taking inches measurements as I'm going, but I'm too lazy. I know that scale numbers don't mean everything and that I could weigh almost the same from one week to another but my body could change in proportions.
Anyway, it's a Monday morning, the Superbowl/birthday festivities are over, and I'm back on track.
Have a great week everyone!
My numbers are continuing to go down. Last Monday I was 233.2, so I will definitely take -0.2 for the week!
I went to Dick's Sporting Goods this past week and got a bundle for $50: an exercise ball, an aerobic step, 3 lb free-weights, and resistance bands. I really just wanted the step since I was sick of using my Wii Fit board, since breaking that would cost $90 as opposed to breaking a plastic step that costs much less. I think it was a good deal! The step is much higher than the Wii Fit board is, so I definitely feel a difference.
I ate decently this past week. Superbowl Sunday is always bad news food-wise, and I had some Doritos and some Carvel ice cream cake for John's birthday (which was actually on that Sunday, too). John also wanted to go to Olive Garden for dinner earlier in the evening, and I actually resisted my urge to get something alfredo-y! I got really yummy garlic red sauce on capellini. Not too shabby.
My jeans do not fit at all anymore, they are way too big! At my heaviest, I was up to a Lane Bryant Venezia jeans size 5 (they do their own sizing system), and I can fit into an old pair of my Venezia size 2 jeans pretty comfortably now. I know I should be taking inches measurements as I'm going, but I'm too lazy. I know that scale numbers don't mean everything and that I could weigh almost the same from one week to another but my body could change in proportions.
Anyway, it's a Monday morning, the Superbowl/birthday festivities are over, and I'm back on track.
Have a great week everyone!
27 January 2009 @ 07:16 am
233.0
Hi everyone! I'm sorry, I meant to post last night. My older brother Jim and my sister in law Heather were visiting from out of town, and we all went out for some sushi. It turns out that California Rollin' has nigiri/sashimi specials on Mondays (and I happen to be quite partial to sashimi)! Even Carl could find something to eat, as a non-sushi lover. Yay. Didn't make it to bed until pretty late and posting here was the last thing on my mind!
Okay back to weight tracking/updates. Yesterday morning I was actually 233.2, this morning I was 233.0! I know dropping 4 lbs is probably mostly water weight and I'm certainly not expecting to keep up an unhealthy pace of 4-5 lbs each week. When I was in Weight Watchers, we learned that 2-3 lbs a week was a healthy amount, but too much more was cause for concern.
I am not relying on Slimfast as much these days. I'm using it as a solution if I need one of my mini meals in a pinch and I don't have anything healthy lined up, but I've been subbing stuff out and only having Slimfast for breakfast lately, keeping with my 5-6 meals depending on how filling they are. For example, Saturday I had:
A Slimfast shake for breakfast, portioned out whole grain veggie chips with salsa as a mid day snack, I-Hop for lunch (Carl was craving it and I was dreading it! They have a new healthy menu, omelette with spinach, tomatoes and cheddar with egg substitute and a fresh fruit cup, the menu said approx ~300 calories total!), high fiber crispbreads with a few laughing cow cheese wedges for afternoon snack, a salad at Moes Southwest Grill for dinner (loaded with healthy beans and veggies, easy on the dressing, loaded on salsa for more spicy flavor), and more healthy snacks for evening time. I never felt hungry!
I'm also doing my best to keep up the exercise part. I've been trying to incorporate little extra things to my at-home workouts, which end up being about 55/45 with my gym workouts (if I'm a good girl and go to the gym on Mondays Tuesdays and Thursdays!). I started out with doing step aerobics while watching TV only. Now I've added in push ups, sit ups, and a few tricep chair dips here's a link to a great Youtube clip of a trainer showing how to do it yourself!. The chair lifts are so hard! I can only do 7 right now. But they target toning the muscles under the flab in my underarms. I figure if I'm going to wear a strapless wedding gown, my arms will need a bit of work, and pushups and chair lifts when I'm home should make an impact. I will also start to occasionally use the Nautical machines at the gym, too.
Anyway... I knew last week that my weight being higher was not a bad thing, that my body was readjusting. My pants fit differently, I have so much more energy, and I'm more excited about life! I still have my definitely meh moments with my job (all of last week), but with today's economy... what can I do? I need to hunker down, get through it however I can, and cheer myself up in other ways. Exercising and eating high-energy foods definitely seems to make a difference.
I'm inching towards 230 lbs, and my goal would be about 160 lbs for the wedding dress fittings a few months before hand, and then under 140 lbs long-term. 70 lbs in a year and a half. We shall see! :)
Hi everyone! I'm sorry, I meant to post last night. My older brother Jim and my sister in law Heather were visiting from out of town, and we all went out for some sushi. It turns out that California Rollin' has nigiri/sashimi specials on Mondays (and I happen to be quite partial to sashimi)! Even Carl could find something to eat, as a non-sushi lover. Yay. Didn't make it to bed until pretty late and posting here was the last thing on my mind!
Okay back to weight tracking/updates. Yesterday morning I was actually 233.2, this morning I was 233.0! I know dropping 4 lbs is probably mostly water weight and I'm certainly not expecting to keep up an unhealthy pace of 4-5 lbs each week. When I was in Weight Watchers, we learned that 2-3 lbs a week was a healthy amount, but too much more was cause for concern.
I am not relying on Slimfast as much these days. I'm using it as a solution if I need one of my mini meals in a pinch and I don't have anything healthy lined up, but I've been subbing stuff out and only having Slimfast for breakfast lately, keeping with my 5-6 meals depending on how filling they are. For example, Saturday I had:
A Slimfast shake for breakfast, portioned out whole grain veggie chips with salsa as a mid day snack, I-Hop for lunch (Carl was craving it and I was dreading it! They have a new healthy menu, omelette with spinach, tomatoes and cheddar with egg substitute and a fresh fruit cup, the menu said approx ~300 calories total!), high fiber crispbreads with a few laughing cow cheese wedges for afternoon snack, a salad at Moes Southwest Grill for dinner (loaded with healthy beans and veggies, easy on the dressing, loaded on salsa for more spicy flavor), and more healthy snacks for evening time. I never felt hungry!
I'm also doing my best to keep up the exercise part. I've been trying to incorporate little extra things to my at-home workouts, which end up being about 55/45 with my gym workouts (if I'm a good girl and go to the gym on Mondays Tuesdays and Thursdays!). I started out with doing step aerobics while watching TV only. Now I've added in push ups, sit ups, and a few tricep chair dips here's a link to a great Youtube clip of a trainer showing how to do it yourself!. The chair lifts are so hard! I can only do 7 right now. But they target toning the muscles under the flab in my underarms. I figure if I'm going to wear a strapless wedding gown, my arms will need a bit of work, and pushups and chair lifts when I'm home should make an impact. I will also start to occasionally use the Nautical machines at the gym, too.
Anyway... I knew last week that my weight being higher was not a bad thing, that my body was readjusting. My pants fit differently, I have so much more energy, and I'm more excited about life! I still have my definitely meh moments with my job (all of last week), but with today's economy... what can I do? I need to hunker down, get through it however I can, and cheer myself up in other ways. Exercising and eating high-energy foods definitely seems to make a difference.
I'm inching towards 230 lbs, and my goal would be about 160 lbs for the wedding dress fittings a few months before hand, and then under 140 lbs long-term. 70 lbs in a year and a half. We shall see! :)
25 January 2009 @ 01:43 pm
I was browsing the internet and found this great article, detailing exactly the routine I'm doing right now for weight loss! They had immense success with 6 small meals each day, even the same vitamins I use! I thought I would share, if anyone is interested:
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
25 January 2009 @ 10:14 am
This is just a reminder to myself, because this is one hell of a depressing time of year and I am having a TOUGH TIME!
Things that make me happy, in no particular order:
* My cats, Pepper & Oliver. Pepper is purring and trying to take over my laptop keyboard as I type!
* Carl, of course, love of my life
* Spongebob Squarepants
* Sunshine, which Rochester NY does not see enough of in January/February
* Spending quality time with buddies, which I try to do on a semi-regular basis these days but still need to do more
* Tea (I am especially a sucker for yummy loose herbal teas lately)
* Knowing that my hard work with my weight is paying off and that my will is strong enough to carry on with it longterm
* Staying in touch with old friends if possible (I'm too shy and need to work on that)
* Mexican food, especially Moe's Southwest Grill's salads
* Seafood
* Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges. Do we notice a food theme here? Oh well, food is awesome!
* Music that soothes my soul. Yo Yo Ma performing Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" = YES
* Music that ramps up my confidence. Madonna. Kanye West. Whatever it takes to cure what ills me!
* Vietnamese Pho soup, which I am craving today. Hmm (can you tell I'm hungry right now?)
* OUR NEW PRESIDENT (woohoo!)
I think that is all, for now. I just needed that friendly reminder.
Weight updates coming on Monday!
Carry on. :)
Things that make me happy, in no particular order:
* My cats, Pepper & Oliver. Pepper is purring and trying to take over my laptop keyboard as I type!
* Carl, of course, love of my life
* Spongebob Squarepants
* Sunshine, which Rochester NY does not see enough of in January/February
* Spending quality time with buddies, which I try to do on a semi-regular basis these days but still need to do more
* Tea (I am especially a sucker for yummy loose herbal teas lately)
* Knowing that my hard work with my weight is paying off and that my will is strong enough to carry on with it longterm
* Staying in touch with old friends if possible (I'm too shy and need to work on that)
* Mexican food, especially Moe's Southwest Grill's salads
* Seafood
* Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges. Do we notice a food theme here? Oh well, food is awesome!
* Music that soothes my soul. Yo Yo Ma performing Saint-Saëns' "The Swan" = YES
* Music that ramps up my confidence. Madonna. Kanye West. Whatever it takes to cure what ills me!
* Vietnamese Pho soup, which I am craving today. Hmm (can you tell I'm hungry right now?)
* OUR NEW PRESIDENT (woohoo!)
I think that is all, for now. I just needed that friendly reminder.
Weight updates coming on Monday!
Carry on. :)
19 January 2009 @ 07:16 am
237.2
I gained a little bit, which doesn't discourage me. I have heard that it can take a week or two for your body to start adjusting to a new routine. I may also be developing muscles after hitting the gym a few times last week. The bathroom scale also wasn't sure if I was 236.2, 236.6, or 237.2. I figured I would go with the highest number to keep myself honest.
I wasn't exactly a perfect saint in regards to adhering to the routine this past weekend, either!
Saturday Katie and Tim came over, and Tim brought a frozen turkey. He got one for Christmas from work because he was closest to guessing the weight (13 lbs). We roasted it in our oven (our very first one!) and made all the fixings. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc etc. You can see where this is leading.
Sunday was Carl's cousin's baby shower. We painted pottery together, which was really fun. I chose a little square box for jewelry and I painted pink and green polka dots on it. We were offered ice cream cake, and I could not resist. Oh well, I tried to eat it slowly and savor it.
My weight may have gone up a little bit, but I feel a lot different. I feel much better, physically. My muscles don't ache as much as they do when I started. I can run up a flight of stairs without feeling as winded as I used to. I have been working out on an elliptical machine at the gym, which is my favorite because it has little knee-impact and I can burn a LOT of calories. I play this little game with myself when I'm working out. One of your options on the elliptical is to view how many calories you burn per minute. I try to keep it above 10. So after 45 minutes (my norm), I should have burned approx. 450+ calories. That's my goal! The past week I have been ballparking 475-480 calories per workout, which makes me happy. :) It's all just a big game to me.
I will not get discouraged about gaining weight this week. I already have my week planned out food-wise and workouts are on the calendar. I am convinced if I stick to the routine (unlike this past weekend), keep my workouts consistent and keep my water intake up, the numbers will eventually turn in my favor.
I gained a little bit, which doesn't discourage me. I have heard that it can take a week or two for your body to start adjusting to a new routine. I may also be developing muscles after hitting the gym a few times last week. The bathroom scale also wasn't sure if I was 236.2, 236.6, or 237.2. I figured I would go with the highest number to keep myself honest.
I wasn't exactly a perfect saint in regards to adhering to the routine this past weekend, either!
Saturday Katie and Tim came over, and Tim brought a frozen turkey. He got one for Christmas from work because he was closest to guessing the weight (13 lbs). We roasted it in our oven (our very first one!) and made all the fixings. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc etc. You can see where this is leading.
Sunday was Carl's cousin's baby shower. We painted pottery together, which was really fun. I chose a little square box for jewelry and I painted pink and green polka dots on it. We were offered ice cream cake, and I could not resist. Oh well, I tried to eat it slowly and savor it.
My weight may have gone up a little bit, but I feel a lot different. I feel much better, physically. My muscles don't ache as much as they do when I started. I can run up a flight of stairs without feeling as winded as I used to. I have been working out on an elliptical machine at the gym, which is my favorite because it has little knee-impact and I can burn a LOT of calories. I play this little game with myself when I'm working out. One of your options on the elliptical is to view how many calories you burn per minute. I try to keep it above 10. So after 45 minutes (my norm), I should have burned approx. 450+ calories. That's my goal! The past week I have been ballparking 475-480 calories per workout, which makes me happy. :) It's all just a big game to me.
I will not get discouraged about gaining weight this week. I already have my week planned out food-wise and workouts are on the calendar. I am convinced if I stick to the routine (unlike this past weekend), keep my workouts consistent and keep my water intake up, the numbers will eventually turn in my favor.
12 January 2009 @ 09:55 pm
235.8 lbs (I will post my morning weight here each Monday, I have NOTHING to hide and only weight to lose!)
Okay guys. I'm really doing this. Today has been Day 1 of my Slimfast Diet. And the verdict: totally doable.
My concept is that it is loosely based around the eating that most experts recommend: small healthy snack-meals throughout the day.
Today I had:
7:00 am: breakfast: cappuccino Slimfast shake
10:00 am: morning snack: 2 clementine oranges and a cheese stick
12:00 pm: lunch: frozen kashi entree, lowfat yogurt and diet coke
3:00 pm: afternoon snack: cherry tomatoes and a cheese stick
6:00 pm: dinner: strawberry Slimfast shake
9:00 pm: evening snack: a can of tuna mixed with hummus, mustard, and spices
Believe it or not, I have not felt hungry all day... because I am basically snacking all day! It feels awesome. The key for me is that dinner is replaced to something portion controlled. My norm in the past has been to come home from a rough day at work and go to town on dinner. Now I can't! I can't go too far off-track with a bowl of tuna and hummus at 9 pm (which is delicious and I'm so glad I put them together! Tribe Scallion hummus + tuna for the WIN). ;)
I have been weighing myself weekly on Monday mornings for a while now, so I will be happy to keep everyone posted on here Monday nights!
I just got back from the gym, where I kicked my butt on the elliptical for 45 minutes and burned 480 calories. Woo! (So don't any of you naysayers think that I'm skeeving off on exercise). I will am also taking multi-vitamins, so no worries that I am not getting my daily nutrition.
I've got one year and three-quarters until my wedding's season (Fall 2010), and I know I can keep on track. My ultimate goal way out in the blue yonder is 160 lbs or less or a size 10 or less, whichever comes first.
STAY TUNED! :D
Okay guys. I'm really doing this. Today has been Day 1 of my Slimfast Diet. And the verdict: totally doable.
My concept is that it is loosely based around the eating that most experts recommend: small healthy snack-meals throughout the day.
Today I had:
7:00 am: breakfast: cappuccino Slimfast shake
10:00 am: morning snack: 2 clementine oranges and a cheese stick
12:00 pm: lunch: frozen kashi entree, lowfat yogurt and diet coke
3:00 pm: afternoon snack: cherry tomatoes and a cheese stick
6:00 pm: dinner: strawberry Slimfast shake
9:00 pm: evening snack: a can of tuna mixed with hummus, mustard, and spices
Believe it or not, I have not felt hungry all day... because I am basically snacking all day! It feels awesome. The key for me is that dinner is replaced to something portion controlled. My norm in the past has been to come home from a rough day at work and go to town on dinner. Now I can't! I can't go too far off-track with a bowl of tuna and hummus at 9 pm (which is delicious and I'm so glad I put them together! Tribe Scallion hummus + tuna for the WIN). ;)
I have been weighing myself weekly on Monday mornings for a while now, so I will be happy to keep everyone posted on here Monday nights!
I just got back from the gym, where I kicked my butt on the elliptical for 45 minutes and burned 480 calories. Woo! (So don't any of you naysayers think that I'm skeeving off on exercise). I will am also taking multi-vitamins, so no worries that I am not getting my daily nutrition.
I've got one year and three-quarters until my wedding's season (Fall 2010), and I know I can keep on track. My ultimate goal way out in the blue yonder is 160 lbs or less or a size 10 or less, whichever comes first.
STAY TUNED! :D
Current Mood: excited
excited01 January 2009 @ 09:42 pm
( 2009 Plans )
I had a nice New Years. I told everyone to arrive at 9... and they all came at 11. WTF? Carl and I sat around with our hors d'oeuvres, wondering where everyone was. They apologized and said they were at another party for a bit and lost track of time... kind of lame if you ask me. Oh well! They made it and we had a great time. Guitar Hero, cocktails, fun times. Most delicious drink of the night was cranberry juice with watermelon vodka. It tastes like a cherry Jolly Rancher. Yum!
2008 was not necessarily a good year for me... dealing with my Dad's ongoing leukemia woes (less energy than he used to have), gaining lots of weight by sitting all day while working a stressful job, and just generally struggling to make it through some days.
On the other hand, I got engaged this year! I am confident that I am with the sweetest, smartest, most even-tempered man ever. I am so lucky to have him influence my life every day. I have also greatly matured since last year. I'm happy the way I am now. I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, for one. I also don't find playing childish games with my little sister worth it at all, which saves me SO much energy. God, she can be infuriating.
Even though I consider myself mature in general, don't be fooled. I still love Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter and fart jokes. In fact, I can't wait to get my iPhone soon and install the iFart application. Yes, I am TOTALLY serious. To each their own, people.
Happy New Year!
I had a nice New Years. I told everyone to arrive at 9... and they all came at 11. WTF? Carl and I sat around with our hors d'oeuvres, wondering where everyone was. They apologized and said they were at another party for a bit and lost track of time... kind of lame if you ask me. Oh well! They made it and we had a great time. Guitar Hero, cocktails, fun times. Most delicious drink of the night was cranberry juice with watermelon vodka. It tastes like a cherry Jolly Rancher. Yum!
2008 was not necessarily a good year for me... dealing with my Dad's ongoing leukemia woes (less energy than he used to have), gaining lots of weight by sitting all day while working a stressful job, and just generally struggling to make it through some days.
On the other hand, I got engaged this year! I am confident that I am with the sweetest, smartest, most even-tempered man ever. I am so lucky to have him influence my life every day. I have also greatly matured since last year. I'm happy the way I am now. I don't drink nearly as much as I used to, for one. I also don't find playing childish games with my little sister worth it at all, which saves me SO much energy. God, she can be infuriating.
Even though I consider myself mature in general, don't be fooled. I still love Spongebob Squarepants, Harry Potter and fart jokes. In fact, I can't wait to get my iPhone soon and install the iFart application. Yes, I am TOTALLY serious. To each their own, people.
Happy New Year!