Friday never comes fast enough

It's been a rough week for me with work stress and my cat's sickness.  I'm so glad it's Friday and I have a weekend in front of me.  My best friend and her husband and child are coming into town for the afternoon tomorrow, and I really can't wait.  They're such wonderful people.

I'm pretty happy with myself actually, this week.  I tend to eat terribly when I'm stressed or in a bad mood, and I've managed to curb that to some degree this week.  I wouldn't say it's been a stellar week, but I've been pretty good.

I'm looking at my goal this way.  I would like to be losing 1 1/2 lbs per week.  That's 5400 calories per week that I need to either not eat, or burn extra.  I'm going to the gym a minimum of 4 times per week, and burning about 500 calories a session.  That takes me down to 3400.  Divided by 7 days, that means I need to figure out how to remove 500 calories from my daily routine.  I'm definitely eating lighter lunches, wraps instead of sandwiches, fruit instead of chips, soups and salads as regular options.  I feel I'm adding more veggies to my dinner choices, and I'm definitely snacking a LOT less, and healthier when I do.  Being that rice cakes and fruit are my regular snack, that definitely trumps Snickers and Kit Kat.  Hopefully these changes will yield the kind of results I'm hoping for.

Exercise:
20m treadmill- 5m walking warm up, 15m, 1.5 mile run
20m elliptical

Breakfast-
Protein shake w/ water (GROSS!)

Snack-
Orange

Lunch-

Dinner-

Cold out

I wonder if I'm making a wise decision to lose weight when it's getting so flipping cold outside.  Fat creates heat.  Skinny people must be freezing, because I"m lightly padded and I'm already always cold.

Worked maybe a little too hard at the gym this morning.  Not sure I'll be able to lift my arms over my head by tomorrow morning, but that's the way it goes.

Exercise-
60 m circuit training-  squats, leg curls, pull ups, push ups, step ups etc.

Breakfast-
Protein shake made w/ half skim milk, half water (ran out of milk!)

Lunch-
Small sweet potato soup
1/2 of small black lentil salad

Snack-
Quakes rice cakes

Dinner-
1 1/2 small pieces quiche
salad greens with balsamic vinegar
iced tea
small serving vanilla/coffee ice cream

My Awesome Job

I love my job.  And I mean the kind of love that makes you want to poke your eyes out with a hot poker, while simultaneously disemboweling yourself with a rusty, dull butterknife.

What I really love is actually people who cover their own ass no matter what.  A co-worker today felt that I had gone about a process in the wrong order.  Rather than simply mention it to me, this co-worker went to her boss, who called me and ripped into me.  Then, she emailed me, and cc'd my VP, to tell me AGAIN what she felt I had done wrong, and how I was to proceed going forward.  And what I'd done in the first place was done to save her team some extra work.

Honestly, I just don't make enough money to put up with that sort of crap.  I haven't had a raise in 3 years.  Yeah, I know, I have a job, it's a bad economy, I should be thankful, but I have a little trouble with all that when I'm getting nasty emails sent over my head.

Anyway, tonight's dinner will most likely be capped off with a large glass of wine, which may not be great, but is mentally needed. I did run this morning, maybe I'll just wipe out my exercise calories in wine.

Exercise-
50m treadmill- combo walking, incline walking and sprints

Breakfast-
Protein Shake w/ skim milk

Snack-
Apple
1/2 chocolate chip cookie

Lunch-
Lean Cuisine Penne & Chicken meal (330 calories)
fun size dark chocolate kit kat

Dinner-
2 slices veggie pizza
1 LARGE glass white wine

Dessert-
bowl special K red berries w/ skim milk

Cone of Shame

It's been an extremely challenging day.  My kitty managed to get to the wound she has, and basically licked it open.  She bled all over my bed, and made a mess in the apartment.  I basically locked the two of us in the bathroom until the vet opened, so that she would only bleed on tile, where I could easily clean up.   We have since been to the vet,  she now has a shaved tail around the wound, meds, and a shiny new, clear cone of shame.  Her balance is a little off because of it, and it's sad and funny all in one.

Its been a stressful day.  I haven't eaten all that well, although I tried to keep it from totally being a scratch toward the end.


Exercise:
Walking
Toting cat round in carrier
STRESS

Breakfast-
Special K red berries w/ skim milk

Lunch-
1 sleeve of ritz crackers
hummus to match

Snack-
Apple
1/2 bag Smart Pop

Dinner-
Baked potato w/ i can't believe it's not butter

Football Challenge

So yesterday was the first time I've gone to watch football since starting this new drive.  I'm VERY proud of myself, as you can see below. I had a nice, protein filled brunch, and then didn't eat again until dinner.

I'm also happy to say, that while I didn't quite lose what I wanted the first week, i came close.  It makes me feel like I can do this!  alread up and at the gym this morning, which makes me feel good.

In other news, my cat has a wound that she just can't seem to leave alone.  I've had to put her in a cone of shame.  She did really well the first day, but this morning has figured out how to get to the wound, so i think she's going to get just a little bigger cone tonight. Bad kitty.  It's sad and funny all in the same bunch.  I feel like a bad cat mommy, even though I know it's really for the best.

Sunday-
Exercise-
walking
Brunch-
steak and eggs
1/2 portion home fries
Football-
2 beers
2 cookies (one to try, one celebratory after our win)
Dinner-
baked potato w/ broccoli and cheddar cheese (light on the cheese)

Monday-
GOAL: Lose 7 lbs by Christmas trip home (12/22)-
GOAL Weight: 150
Current Weight:154.5
Notes- Lost 2 1/2 lbs!  Was hoping for 3 this week, but 2 1/2, considering I had a christmas party and a football game, is really good.  I'm very happy with that.
EXERCISE:
60m weight training- front body.  Crunches, incline press, lunges w/ weights,  fly press, leg extensions, etc.

Breakfast-
Skim Milk protein shake

Snack-
apple

Lunch-
Lean cuisine spa classic (240 cals)
orange
1 small chocolate chip cookie

Dinner-
special K red berries w/ skim milk
hummus and carrots

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells

The holidays are upon us.  Tonight is my first holiday party.  Ugh.  What to do.  I want to go, I should go, as it's a good friend of my boyfriend's.  But willpower at a  yummy food holiday party is going to be difficult.  Wish me lots and lots of fortitude and luck.  And a smaller waistline.

Earlier today, I spent the afternoon at a career seminar for a girls' organization.  It was really fun, speaking to young girls about my career, the choices I've made, and the path I've taken.  I'm glad I took the time to do this today.  Hopefully the evening will go as well.

Exercise- 
Walking- not much
Breakfast- 
Raisin Bran w/ 2% milk
Dinner-
2 slices pizza- one hawaiian, one plain
Party-
2 glasses white wine
1 glass hot chocolate w/ whiskey shot
1 mini mince pie
1 brownie
1 truffle
1 cookie
small portion of cheese/pepperoni/bread appetizer
4 olives


ok- not great.... but, I tried one of the desserts I thought looked good, only tried 4 (there were probably 8 there) I kept my alcohol content in check- not the best, but really not terrible!  I'm actually quite happy with my behavior.

Inspiration

I went to see a play this week, (Noel Coward's Hay Fever) and one of the actors in the play was a 99 year old woman.  I didn't get to talk to her afterward, but I will say that she was one of the most spry, active, and young looking 99 year olds I've ever seen.  Apparently, she was on the today show lately, as well as some other shows, because she's soon turning 100. 

It amazes me that at 36, I can't seem to find the time to get anything done, I'm tired most of the time from exercising, and often want to just lay on the couch, and here's a woman at 99 who is out and about, memorizing lines, ad libbing, and really living life.  I need to be more like her.

Exercise:
4.5 treadmill- 2.25 running, balance walking.

Breakfast-
Protein shake with skim milk
Lunch-
Special K red berries w/ skim milk
banana
Snack-
Smartfood popcorn
Dinner-
Chicken and Rice Stew
Broccoli
Small scoop of mango sorbet