Dunh dunh dunh

So Justin has been loosely following the meals. Its just easier to cook the same thing for both of us. He has been losing weight too, not as fast as me but he's down almost 25 lbs so he's not much behind me. Its nice to be able to stand closer to him when we kiss with both of us a bit smaller.

Yesterday he had fasting bloodwork done. Today he said his cholesterol is down to 159 and his triglycerides are down a lot from the 3000 they were at for the last test (I didn't get the exact number for his triglycerides). He and I are both happy with these numbers.

Day 96 - Almost there

I'm running on empty today. I'm just exhausted and not sure why. Maybe I didn't get to bed early enough. I know I didn't sleep well. I heard Justin's alarm go off and thought it was mine. I also had a 2 year old in bed with me all night.

Food has been on plan, though I had tea instead of coffee this morning and had honey in my tea. I had the same amount of calories as I do with coffee and nondairy creamer, but I feel like I didn't do well with using honey. I kinda hoped that since its local honey it'd help with my allergies. I'll go the rest of the week drinking tea and rethink it later.

The writing got done last night, tho I need to do better at reading the directions since I had to rewrite part of the article when I thought I was done.

Thinking I might go for a walk this afternoon - after the stupid department conference call. Its 61 and sunny right now. I need more sunshine to help my mood.

Day 95 - Double blah

I've got to finish that stupid article I was working on last night.  I had 200 of 300 words done and navigated away from the page to check something.  So of course, all of my work is gone. 

I just want to go to bed.  I'm tired and semi-depressed.  A friend of mine is going through a rough time, and I feel bad I can't help her right now because things aren't that much better for us.  At least I get WIC and something the schools do here.. they send home these food packs for the low income kids.  Since we qualify for free lunches, we qualify for this.  It's stuff I wouldn't normally buy, single serve cereal, milk and juice, plastic tubs of applesauce and green beans, cereal bars and trail mix, sometimes Vienna sausages and small cans of pork and beans.  My daughter's teacher knows we have a 2 year old as well, so she sends home a double set of these bags.  I think the city calls them 'Food 4 Kids' or something like that.  I hate how the city advertises that it's for kids who would otherwise go hungry, because I wouldn't let the kids go hungry. 

Anyway, I'm obviously procrastinating the article I NEED to write tonight, so I'd best take out my contacts and focus.  Exercise happened and food and water were on plan.  Laterness & g'night.

Blah

I'm ready to go home. I emailed the dear friend I was worried about and he's been out of town. Silly of me to worry :P

I texted my Marine with a question and had to laugh. He has a Blackberry but called because 'it was too much typing.'

Anyway not much to say here, I'm just hungry today and trying to remind myself that hunger isn't bad.

Day 95 - Are you some kind of hypnotist?

On to an OK band - The Flaming Lips. All of their songs remind me of an old friend who died in 2006 - he was from OKC originally and knew some of the same people as The Flaming Lips. I really miss my friend some days - he and his wife were some of my closest friends. He believed in my programming and design skills when I didn't believe in myself. He would have turned 40 this April - 2 weeks before I turn 40. He left behind a wife who had been a stay at home mom and 3 kids under 10. His youngest was just 3 when he died. His oldest was 9 - he died 4 months before her 10th birthday and 4 days before his anniversary. Since he died of complications related to Crohn's, I can't really say its weight related but ... I think I'm missing him so much because I need his advice.

Food so far is on plan. The smoothie this morning was surprisingly good if a touch sweet. I haven't done the popcorn yet, but the almost Waldorf salad is ready for lunch. LOL I'm calling it that because of the lack of grapes and addition of tuna. Justin tasted it this morning and said it was good.

I'm not really hungry but am eating the salad before I go walk. Its time to get away from my desk. Past the time if the crap I'm overhearing over my headphones is any indication. Negativity breeds negativity.

Day 94 - Relaxation and sleep

My stomach is feeling a bit better tonight, though I didn't manage to eat most of my food today.  Oh well.  My dinner salad is mostly still in the bowl.  I did eat the chicken, and it's sitting fine.  I ate some of the salad, it's sitting okay as well.  I took a long nap with my 2 year old today.  I'd feel a bit bad about it, but anything to make me feel better.  I still need to do my strength exercises.  I hate the day that I'm on for exercises.  It's all good except for the single leg lift and squat.  That one is still extremely hard for me to do.

Took a long bath today too.  I figured I'd see if the stomach issues were stress related.  Apparently they were.  Great, I can't exactly stop going to work.  I guess that's just the final straw.  I've got an article I need to write tonight, then I need to evaluate what I should be doing.  Obviously the deadline I gave myself of getting out of there by the end of April is going to have to become more important.

So, other than going light on the food, everything is on plan.  I'll get through the rest of this.  God is in control.

Anyway, this article I took is extremely difficult, so I'd best write it and get it over with.  I need to prove to myself that I can write the more difficult articles.  Laterness & g'night.

Day 94 - Again?!

So apparently the stomach thing that I thought I was over isn't actually gone.  I had to make numerous trips to the bathroom this morning when I first got up, so I called in sick.  I'm hoping that resting today will help.  I'll still try to stay on plan, but may not eat everything.  We'll see what happens.  I know the crackers with lunch will be helpful.  Breakfast was an English muffin and a cup of fruit, so I had a banana (hey that's fruit LOL).  I'm drinking coffee, but am thinking that might not have been the best idea.  I've got my gallon of water on the counter and am all set for the day.

So since I was on Facebook earlier, I got a message from a friend I haven't seen in years and years.  We went to church together when growing up.  He's the son of the couple I called a couple of Sundays ago.  So he and I have been talking and catching up on what's been happening.

I got some really encouraging news from Textbroker last night (the company I've been writing for lately).  When I first applied, they set my classification at 3, which is what they do for 'good' writers.  Last night, I got an email that they evaluated the first 2 articles I wrote, and upgraded my classification to 4, which is 'excellent' writer.  The only thing higher is 5, which is professional writers.  I get paid more as my classification goes higher, so that's always a good thing.  Of course, the higher paying articles require more research.  It's all good, once I get better at it it'll be easier.

Day 93 - Monday

So it's 56 days into the Phase 5 Challenge and I'm only 15 lbs down.  I'm kinda feeling a bit like I'm letting myself down.  I'm trying to increase my exercise and really watch what I eat.  The weight will come off, just slower than I want.

Food was on plan today.  So were water and exercise.  I'm a bit hungry, but I've got some writing to do then I'm headed to bed early.  Hopefully I can get the article done quickly.  If so I'll be over 1/3 of the way toward my writing goal by the 5th.  I have some stuff that needs to be renewed, and I need to buckle down and get to writing so I can get paid for it.  I also need to actually write more than 2 articles a week lol.  I'll get there.  Posted to Facebook tonight about counting my blessings.  I'm trapped in a job I hate, and away from my sister and parents, but I've got 3 great kids and a husband who loves me - even if he doesn't show it most of the time.  Plenty of blessings for me to count there.

Laterness & g'night.

Day 93 - I can see God's fingerprints

Actually the line is 'I can see the fingerprints of God' but MMS has a maximum field size, and that's just too long. I'm at work but am having computer issues. They changed my domain the week before last but not everyone's domain. So today I'm getting more issues and can't check my email. I got the message to reboot and its coming up normally albeit slowly.

I wasn't happy with breakfast this morning. I didn't notice the suggested cooking time and I assume it was supposed to be old fashioned oats. I had to drink the oatmeal because it was way too thin. All I have is the quick cooking stuff. Oh well. I'll live.

Kinda tired today. It's going to be a long day. So far everything is on plan and I'm no longer nauseous. My gallon of water is sitting here next to me not quite half done. I'm working at clearing off my desk.

Walking is getting ready to happen as I'm typing (heading downstairs now). I will be hungry this afternoon but that's gonna happen on a diet.

Day 92 - A Day of Rest

So it's a good thing I got my lunch before Justin.  Today's lunch is tuna salad with saltines.  I didn't have any more pouches of tuna, and he loves eating tuna like this.  I've gotta go grocery shopping later, I'll just have to pick up more tuna.  I needed it anyway for the rest of the week. 

Church today helped a whole lot with my peace of mind.  Funny how the sermon pretty much covered what's going on in my life.  And at least 2 people came up to me and said something about hope and putting one foot in front of the other. 

I hope I got enough of everything for this week.  I think I forgot to get more peaches.  Not sure I want to get peaches at Walmart anyway, and I got lazy and bought my groceries there this week.  Lazy as in it's cheaper to buy the sale items at the local grocery stores, but I didn't get the groceries until this evening because I wanted to wait and see what else I needed for this week's plan.

I got my walk in this evening after my nap and before dinner.  I ate on plan, and I'm actually hungry now for the first time in over a week.  I think I'm finally over whatever was wrong with my stomach.  I still have a cup of yogurt for a snack, and about 16 oz of water left.  Laterness & g'night.