Enjoy the "Journey"

I am insane.  No, really.  I am one of the most annoying picky people I know when it comes to language and writing.  I guess it's partially because I'm a English teacher, but to some extent I've always been this way.  Lately, the thing that's really getting under my skin is people using the word "journey" for every. stupid. thing.  Usually, it's women who are trying to lose weight.  "I can't wait to start my journey", "Thank you for sharing your journey"-barf.  I think calling weight loss a "journey" makes it sound like this incredibly difficult and unattainable thing.  It always makes me think of the Whole30 when they explain why living off of grass and beans is not that hard.  Traveling to Iraq to serve our country is a journey.  Leaving your abusive good-for-nothing husband is a journey.  Getting a degree is a journey.  Laying off the junk food and walking around the block...not so much.  I get why women say this though.  As someone who has struggled with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I know that starting to eat better can feel like a monumental task.  Can we think of a better way to say this?  Please?!

Snow Day!

Yesterday we were forecasted to receive up to 15" of snow and for once, the forecast was correct.  We will probably be out of school for most of the week and I am already climbing the walls.  Thankfully, we live on a main road so we should be able to escape tomorrow.
I'd be lying if I said I was still on track to lose 30 pounds by my thirtieth birthday, but I still want to lose at least 15 pounds.  Being in the house used to be the death of me but I've found that there are a few ways I can keep from putting on tons of weight during the Summer or on a snow day.

First of all, remain active.  As tempting as it was to sit on the couch all day I tried to remain active.  I walked out to our laundry room 345346 times.  With L being so little, I'm pretty limited as to being able to take her outside, but we had plenty of dance parties yesterday.  My FitBit is charging right now and my goal is to make it to 10,000 steps today.  Also, I bought a new DVD to try out during nap time.  Don't make excuses to not be active.  The snow is OUTSIDE your are INSIDE.  Get on YouTube and find a workout to do...just don't get distracted by all the videos and end up watching Whose Line outtakes for two hours.  Not that I'd do that.

Also, don't see it as a holiday.  I get it, I really do.  Everybody is all PJs and fires and snow cream.  On Facebook yesterday there were tons of people talking about snow cream.  Yeah, that stuff is okay but I'd rather save my points for more coffee or a donut.  It's not really worth it to me.  It's just another workday.  It is not Christmas, it is not Thanksgiving, it's Tuesday.  Calm down.

Finally, it is what it is.  Yesterday I ate more junk than usual, but you know what?  I also ate fruit which is something I wouldn't have done last year.  Yesterday was a wash, but that doesn't mean that today has to be.  I'm starting fresh today and hoping to tackle some projects that should distract me from that little Food Devil sitting on my shoulder.

Here's to getting my to-do list done, snuggling my baby, and trying not to get to annoyed with M.

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

Just kidding, I freaking HATE winter right now.  The only thing that's keeping me from packing up and moving to Florida is this cozy little snow day I'm enjoying right now.  Too bad we don't actually have any snow on the ground...

Reason #1 I hate winter: Saturday M woke me up before he went to work to tell me that the pipes were frozen in our laundry room.  The genius that built our house put the laundry room outside in the carport.  When we bought our house we knew that it was going to be an issue but there really isn't anywhere we can move the washer and dryer right now.  Anyway, they didn't crack but it meant I couldn't do laundry all day and I had absolutely no clean clothes.  Luckily, Matt was able to take half a day at work and come fix them.  All was right in the world until...

Reason #2 I hate winter: Our furnace went out an hour before M's entire extended family was coming over on Saturday night.  Did I mention that this was the second time it had gone out since we've had Lilly?  No?  Well, now I have.  Luckily we have a fireplace, but we've been having to camp out in our living room all week.  Not fun.  As soon as we get our tax refund that sucker is getting replaced.

Reason #3 I hate winter:  The furnace repairman told us our furnace was made in 1995.  To which I said, "Well, that's not too bad"  and he replied, "Ma'am that means it's 20 years old".  When did that happen?  The 90's were 20 years ago!!!  Holy crap.  I'm old.

Next Time...

M and I have been discussing our "next one".  We know we aren't ready to begin trying for baby 2 just yet but there are some things that we are definitely going to do differently next time.  I really want to make sure that I write these down because Lord knows I will not remember them in a couple years.  Today I'm going to talk about things I wish I taken with me to the hospital and things I won't bother with.

Wish I had:

1.) A SWADDLE.  Holy crap.  I wish I had taken some type of swaddler with us.  Lilly slept great every time the nurses would bring her back to us because they swaddled her so well.  I was nervous to wrap her tightly so I couldn't get her swaddled like they did.  I was also super nervous to leave a loose blanket in her crib so it was hard for me to get sleep.  Next time I'd like to at least take a Halo sleep sack swaddle to keep her warm and cozy and give me some peace of mind.

2.) A white noise app on my phone: We sleep with the fan on every night and trying to sleep in the hospital was torture without it.  People are noisy!  I would have loved to have some white noise to cancel out all the laughing, screaming, and dropping that people did.

3.) iPad: definitely not a need, but it would have been nice to have.

4.) My own pillow and blanket

5.) Pajamas that are actually comfortable and a nursing sleep bra

6.) Hair ties and headbands

7.) A pacifier: lactation lady be damned, I wish I had told her to screw off when she told me I was basically ruining my child by trying to get her to take a pacifier.  Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself.  It's your kid, unless it's actually causing the baby harm, do what the hell you want to do.

Don't Bother:

1.) Pads: hospital had plenty and sent me home with plenty

2.) Diapers, baby wash, wipes, etc: again, hospital had plenty.  Although, Lilly had skin sensitivity so I might take baby wash that is made for sensitive skin again

30 by 30 Update

This week I'm down about 2 pounds.  I've lost 11 pounds since I went back to work.  I really want to add in some exercise this week and just keep my eating under control with it being Christmas Break and all.  I am really excited about the changes that I've made in my attitude toward food.  I feel like I have a much healthier relationship with it.  I'm not really following any specific diet, and I think that is the best way to go.  I'm just trying to eat in a balanced way.  If I know I'm going to be eating something fatty or high in carbs, I cut back the rest of the day.  For example, I knew I was going to be eating at Olive Garden on Saturday when we went Christmas shopping.  That morning I ate a super light breakfast and also a lighter dinner.  I chose a pretty reasonable lunch but I didn't really drive myself crazy about what I ate.  Yesterday, I knew I was going to have pizza for dinner so I chose healthier options throughout the day.  I also watched how much pizza I ate.  I'll probably have to start watching what I eat more closely as I lose more and more weight.
I've decided on a few rewards for myself as I lose the weight.  I find that I'm more successful if I bribe myself.  My first goal for 20 pounds lost is going to be a new pair of jeans (7 pounds until that goal!).  My goal for 30 pounds lost will be a new dress from Modcloth.  I have wanted to order from them for SO long.  My goal for reaching my first major goal (40 pounds lost) will be family photos with my favorite photographer.  That's as far as I'm looking for right now.  I really don't want to overwhelm myself.
Finally, I had a major NSV this week.  Friday was the last day of school before the break.  Teachers know that this means one thing:lots of junk food.  I took donuts and cookies for my kids as a reward for good behavior and I didn't eat ANY of it.  In years past I would have made myself sick.  This year they just didn't seem to be worth it.  I know that I can have them at any time so it really doesn't make it worth the calories.  At the end of the day I felt so much better than I have in previous years, so that alone made it worth it.
This week I'm just really hoping to keep making good decisions and NOT get crazy about tracking every single thing I eat.

30 by 30

I'm turning 30 next year.  I'm not really sure how that happened.  I'm surprisingly not that sad about it.  I think that my thirties are going to be my best decade.  I spent my early twenties working at a fast food seafood restaurant and going to school full time.  My mid twenties are a blur of margaritas and espresso shots.  My late twenties have definitely been THE BEST.  I got married, had a baby, got a job I love, and bought a house.  The only thing that I really don't love about my life...my weight.  It slowly crept up through my twenties and has been stuck since around 2010.  I don't hate myself because I'm a little fluffy, but I know I'm not healthy.  I've decided that I want to lose 30 pounds by my thirtieth birthday in May.  I have a daughter now and I want her to see me healthy and happy.  It's not just about how I look either; I really want to get healthy and be a good example for her.
Another goal that I have is to lose the weight without buying anything-no shakes, no pills, no energy drinks, no gym membership.  Full disclosure:  I do currently have a 3 month Weight Watchers membership that I signed up for about a month ago.  I don't go to meetings, but I do track online...once in a while.  I think WW is a great program, but I don't think it's really necessary to lose weight.  I will not be renewing once this three months is up.  I am so sick of "diet culture".  I believe that this culture is a major reason why people are overweight.  I want to be an example, to my students, to my family, to my friends, that you don't have to spend a cent to be healthy.  Is it going to be easy?  Heck no.  Is it going to be worth it?  Hell yes.  I want to be able to have energy when I get off work.  I want to be able to FIND MY MOTHERLOVING SIZE IN A STORE.  There's nothing wrong with being plus sized, but I'm just sick of it.
When I reach my goal in May I'm rewarding myself by scheduling family photos with my favorite photographers.  I'm already planning our outfits.  I can not wait.  My other goal is to wear a bikini on the beach in October.  Hashtag: I got this.

Weekly Goals 12/1

The three weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Break are always nuts.  There are MAP tests to be taken, essays to grade, assemblies, concerts, etc.  I'm making a real effort to stay more organized this year, and to make sure that I really grade authentically (another post on that soon!).  I really find that setting goals for each week, both with my students and my own life, help me stay on top of things.  This week my goals are:

1.) Have all my students' essays graded by Friday-MAP testing should allow me time to do this so I don't have to spend all my free time grading.  

2.) Get a tree topper for the tree- I didn't think my tree was that big until we got it home.  Needless to say, we have to find a bigger one.  You can barely even see the one I bought a couple years ago.

3.) Speaking of trees....I need to put up my classroom tree and set out all my decorations

4.) Finish the bulletin board outside of my room

5.) Clean out my desk!  The sub for my maternity leave made my desk her own, which is totally fine...but my OCD can't handle it.

 

I think that's about all I can handle this week.  Oh, and I want to be sure to track on WW every day.  My big goal is to lose 30 pounds by my 30th birthday in May.  I got this!