Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

Thursday truths -- well, I've practically eaten all the lumps of cheese in the house. Cheese is my big downfall really.

October logging and counting -- 10/16 -- I'm being rubbish about logging at the moment and I don't really know why. I don't think my food choices are that bad, even with the cheese, so I need to get a grip -- especially as we're away for much of the next fortnight.

@Lois_1989 -- all dry today at least! And you lost 0.8 lbs which sounds like a BIG WIN to me and not a failed goal at all.
@Morgori -- I used to live near Kennett Square, the Mushroom Capital of the World. I love mushrooms and try to have them in all the time. They are truly a wonder food for us 100-pounders. I fry them up using spray-fry and put them in lots of things.
@cahf -- welcome! It's a support thread for those of us who have a lot to lose and are in it for the long haul, and everyone is welcome.
@Kaye -- I'm really pleased to hear that your husband is staying cancer-free.
@skinnyjeanzbound -- Karen, our main roof is tiled and is just fine (touch wood). But the kitchen roof has glass in it and glass roofs nearly always tend to leak over time (I know that now!). And the other leak is somewhere where some roofing felt has failed on a small flat roof. So I don't think it will be too much -- the issue is finding a roofer with time to do the job at this time of year.
@cblue315 -- Lori, WELL DONE for exercising so hard! I think exercising is pretty embarrassing for lots of people, even those who look fantastic to us. Just doing it is the main thing.
@NK1112 -- Niki, my big achievement on the housework front is that I have finally sold my son's Little Tikes police car. He is 14! Why did we not get rid of this years ago? I cleaned it up a bit this morning and the woman who's bought it was thrilled to get it for a good price.
@NaomiFilcock -- Naomi, welcome back! Gaining a few pounds isn't much in the grand scheme of things (I gained nearly 40 while I was away from here, kicking myself now), but coming back to the thread will help you get on track.

Today's green smoothie: cauliflower (which I steamed yesterday), banana, dates, dark chocolate, yoghurt. This did work with dark chocolate though melting it is a bit of a faff, and dates to provide the sweetness, but it was too thick. I added loads of water but we still ended up eating it with a spoon. So sort of like having pudding for breakfast. This is a really yummy smoothie though. Not green obviously.

Welcome newlings! This is a great thread -- check back often and let us know how you're doing.

I'm off to stay with my folks for a couple of days, and then I'm going to Kent for a couple of days for a bit of a rest. Hope you have great plans for the weekend!

-- Alison

Hi everyone. I don't have anything new and exciting to report. I am thankful today is already Thursday and the weekend is almost here. Work has been really rough with the high needs of my students. I really need at least 1 if not more aides in my room to deal with all the needs and behaviors. Right now all I can do is keep documenting everything and when we gather enough data we can bring it to the higher ups as our documentation as to why we need the extra staff. It sucks.

I don't know if I mentioned it but I was trying for a while to get in contact with my boss at district to let her know about the baby and my need for maternity leave. She works in a different building and I rarely see her. She randomly pops into my classroom to check in on the program but I never know when she is coming. When she does arrive I am usually in the middle of teaching or dealing with a behavior so speaking to her then was not an option. I FINALLY got a hold of her yesterday. She was really nice about it and will get back to me after she speaks to personnel regarding maternity leave for me. It was a huge weight lifted off my chest. Now that she is aware I don't feel like I have to hide it so much from my coworkers. It definitely is getting difficult. I have noticed a lot of belly glances when talking to staff in the building. No one has questioned me about it yet though besides the ones I told about it.

Robin (Ellen) - Thanks for the link to the thread. I did try to get on here at some point (don't remember when) but the forums were down. Love the picture you posted! I agree with what everyone else seems to have said already. I don't really like this new format. This new format will take some time for me to get used to.

Skinnyjeans - Thanks for the instructions on how to bookmark the thread. I love the pictures you posted! You ladies look fabulous!

YAY! The in-laws are gone, and now I can go back to eating like a sane person!

I love them to death. They are wonderful people, and insanely generous... but they are kinda picky and just have a much different schedule for their day than I do, so it throws me off and it stresses me out. Stressing equals snacking, and there you go.

Couple that with pastor appreciation month, and all the treats and dinners out... I'm doing my best not to turn into StayPuft. My pantry/freezer right now contian: a delicious white sheet cake, an even more delicious carrot cake, pumpkin bread, ice cream, chocolate cream drops, what seems like buckets of chili, a chipped beef cheese ball, leftover hamburgers, bags of chips, bottles of soda, white chocolate everything, and a partridge in a pear tree.

We were treated to Mexican on Tuesday, we're going to another person's house for grilled steaks tonight... OY. I wish I could say "no" to some of these, but I feel like it would be rude, as though I was refusing their appreciation of my husband.

Today is lots and LOTS of water because I'm all puffy in my extremities (my fingers and ankles, mostly) from too much sodium and not enough water. Trying to fix that today.

Good morning everyone. Things are trucking along like normal here. My eating has been fairly good all week and I am starting to get back in the exercise flow. The doggies are so happy to be back out in the mornings and then I am doing some hand weights and light calisthenics after we get home. So far so good. The kiddos are both actively looking for new jobs. My son has an interview that sounds very promising for tomorrow so I am keeping my fingers crossed for him. I had a rather stern talk with them at the beginning of the week about helping out a little more around the house and for once it doesnt seem to have fallen on deaf ears. They have both been stepping up and getting stuff done all week without me even asking As you all know I babysit my niece and nephew before and after school every day. I have decided I couldnt be a modern parent. Their parents want them to be "well rounded" so they are both in sports and between those and the massive amounts of homework they are getting and thier house chores I am literally watching them get more and more exhausted. When did it become the norm to have every minute of a childs day scheduled. I believe in sports, homework, and chores but everything in moderation. My niece is in 5th grade and gets at least two or more hours of homework every night. I shudder to think of what high school will be like. I dont blame the teachers. Most of it is the stuff the government keeps piling on on top of all the regular course work. Okay rant over. It just makes me so sad to see them so tired by the end of the week. Thank goodness mine are raised. Well everyone have a great day.

I wasn't expecting such an outpouring of generosity from these folks. We just got here, and they were super generous a month ago when we showed up, but to get gifts all month long? It's just crazy. And they aren't just for my husband, either. A lot of them are addressed to both of us. So very sweet.

Here's one of my favorites... The runner, napkins, and coasters were made by a member of the congregation.

@fera—I was thinking the same thing as robin. Could you host some sort of get-together to use up some of those treats? The fact that you put them in the freezer is brilliant—then you can just thaw small amounts so you don’t get tempted to eat an entire sheet cake in a couple of days. (sounds like something I might do)

@tracy—yes, these mid-terms are really vital this year. I’ve heard a lot about that “Personhood” proposal—not much of it good. I hope it doesn’t pass as I think it puts too many restrictions on individual rights. I don’t know about other states, but in IL it’s actually state mandated that insurance must cover fertility treatments—including something like 4 tries at IVF. Not sure what the percentage of that coverage is, but I know people’s right to some level of coverage is protected so insurance companies can’t opt out. I wish birth control were similarly mandated. Abortion is such a tricky subject. Nobody is “pro” abortion—no one “wants” an abortion, right? However, I’m firmly against allowing the government too much control in any aspect of private citizens’ lives. I’ve taught too many dystopian novels about that slippery slope, I guess. Brave New World. 1984. Fahrenheit 451.

I agree with you that too many voters don’t take the time to really research their ballots—and really who has the time? I applaud you for making that effort. Here in IL it’s the governor’s race that is scaring me—and every other public employee. Our current democrat is not a great option as he’s already signed a bill to change our pension agreements (the bill is stayed pending judicial review in the courts—b/c it violates our state constitution). However, the republican is intent on ending all collective bargaining rights of unions. As a teacher/union member it’s a no brainer though not a happy decision.

Oh and I LOL’d about your son preferring a poke in the eye to writing and reading his poem. That’s about how I feel about reading and grading students’ poetry. I never make my students write it—as Robert Frost said, “that should be one’s own funeral.”

@kelley—have a great trip!!!

@tammy—I agree that 2 hours/night is too much for a 5th grader—that’s actually the recommended upper limit for HS students. Also, I totally agree about kids being overscheduled. I think a lot of it is due to competitiveness getting into college, and even more so getting scholarships to be able to afford college. That sad part is that so many kids get into college with the money to pay and then can’t handle the academics b/c they spent so much time in extra-curriculars instead of studying.

@robin—one of my friends is planning to go down there to see if she can catch a glimpse of the band and wants me to join her. I honestly would except I have to proctor the PSAT early Saturday morning. If I had gotten tickets to the show, I would have found a replacement. But it doesn’t seem worth giving up the proctoring fee on the very slight chance of a Foo sighting. Being a responsible adult sucks sometimes. <sigh>

@niki—Foo Fighters are considered Alternative Rock or Grunge, but were heavily influenced by some punks groups like the Pixies and the Melvins. If you are new to their music, The Color and the Shape is by far their best album. Congrats on getting into the 240s—and I view it the same way; today’s low end of our weight range turns into the high end if we just keep at it.

@nettie—so sorry you aren’t getting the aides you need. I have a friend who works special ed in Chicago and is in a similar boat. She has a student who is truly a danger to himself and others, but all she can do is document, document, document.

@naomi—welcome back!!!

Sorry for those I missed--I'll catch you on the next round.

Thursday Truth:
I'm doing pretty good with calories, but exercise has been abysmal this week. Also, I have been slacking about grading as well--just seem to have lost my mojo this week. I was thinking I might be getting sick, but now I just think it was my week of the month to be tired and lazy. Other than proctoring a test Saturday morning, I've got no weekend plans, so will devote lots of time to both the gym and grading.

Grading Goals:
1. 3/67 AP essays
2. there's more, but I refuse to acknowledge it until I put a decent dent in those essays

Exercise Goals:
Sat--rest day
Sun--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Mon-- walk gunner NOT DONE—RAIN
Tues--walk gunner (maybe--late meeting) NOT DONE—MORE RAIN
Wed--walk gunner NOT DONE + gym NOT DONE
Thurs--walk gunner DONE
Fri--rest day

October Challenge:
Days under calories = 11/15
Days >100g of protein = 7/15

Just a quick fly-by tonight. I've basically been figuring out outfits tonight and starting to get things together. My trainer wasn't feeling well so canceled, if he feels better tomorrow we're going to make up today's session in the afternoon. Otherwise, I will be packing and getting ready for my 6am flight on Saturday.

I'll miss everyone and checking in, have a great week--"see" you soon!

The baby in the above photo was just born in the last day. These are the triplets.

October logging and counting -- 10/17 -- OK, so I weighed myself this morning and my weight is not going in the right direction! It turns out that getting up at 7am to make everyone smoothies is messing up my day. So I'm recommitting today, like you do. Today's green smoothie was grapefruit, pineapple, banana, lettuce, cucumber and yoghurt, and was very fresh and delicious. A very pale yellow green; I need more spinach.

A slightly stressful morning today because we're driving up to my parents' house (it's a 3 hour drive) straight after school, which means we have to pick my girl up from her school, which means she had to pack a bag, but her bf came round last night so she did not do *anything*. No chores, no packing. So we've had a wild morning, and the kitchen looks like a tornado went through it. I've gently explained to my family that if I get up in the morning and the kitchen still looks the way it did the moment we got up from dinner there are not going to be any more smoothies.

Friday fitness -- I'm still being a bit of a couch potato. October's a difficult month for that.

@JNettie73 -- Nettie, I remember the stress of not letting co-workers know I was expecting. And I was super sick too, especially the first time. A long time ago now!
@jtconst -- Tammy, my kids were relatively unstructured (my son still only has one after-school club and one activity) but my daughter's life still got very very full from when she was about 15 on. It's a big task for her to juggle everything. But my son's definitely getting a lot of homework too (equiv of first year of high school). He doesn't do it, mind.
@NK1112 -- Niki, what a thrill on the scales!
@FeraFilia -- I guess the congregation is just thrilled that your husband is there to minister to them -- and you should invite people round to eat all those sweet treats. What a lovely table setting!
@skinnyjeanzbound -- Karen, the issue I have with homework is that the teachers say how long it's meant to take. But sometimes those estimates are off, and sometimes my kids find the tasks much harder than the teacher thought they would. And both of them are inclined to leave things to the very last minute and then find it's half an hour till bedtime and they've got 2 hours work to do! Extra-curriculars do affect whether you get a university offer here, and my daughter has a reasonable set, but really it's all about the grades because everyone takes standard exams. She's predicted top grades so she will get offers from top universities.
@Lauriek70 -- Laurie, Renaissance Guy is playing hard to get, isn't he? Hopefully you can work something out next week sometime. I'm seeing 3 copies of the same baby goat I think rather than triplets?

So, yesterday I actually did quite a lot of a couple of courses, and watched the apple event (I am *so sad*) and put Yosemite on this machine (I really want the mac/iPad handoff features to work). And today I want to plan next week and catch up on all my commitments because I have three different short trips in the next two weeks.

And now the weekend! Hope yours is a great one!

-- Alison