Day 19: The Event

So here we are with fall ushering in with the rain or sun--this is Portland and the weather can never make up her mind!  With the fall comes the new school year, both for my son, my husband (he is a teacher) and myself ( I am studying to be a librarian at Portland State University).  But also with the fall come the new season of all of my favorite TV shows as well as the new ones.  I wanted to record "The Event" but is got cancelled because so many other shows were being recorded.  So I am faced with a dilema.  My old habits is to turn to television and eating when things are too over whelming, but this blog is about addressing these old patterns.  So, I think I need to create "My Event" and prioritize what I really like to watch and cut some shows out.  Truth is television is a time-eater.  With that time I could work out, go for a walk, actually get ahead in my homework, or work on some long awaited project that has been shoved in the closet for a millenium.  This is big for me, this definately is "The Event" for me.  Cut down on televistion, it almost seems sacralige and yet I am smiling!? Strange.  What are your thoughts?

Day 18: Girlfriends

Today I went out with a "new" friend today and played.  We went to this amazing store that is like a cross between the Goodwill and Michaels called SCRAP (School and Community Reuse Action Project) focusing on reusing school, office, and crafting supplies.  I have actually know her for awhile through someone else but this summer we really hit off.  It is nice to make a new friend or rather learn about someone familiar in a new way!  As for spending money, I resisted temptation.  There was a pretty piece of fabric that was $8, not a bad price, but did not actually NEED!  So I decided that if it is God or the Univervise's will, the fabric will be there for me the next I go back.

Have any of you made new friends this year or connected with someone in a new way?

Day 17: Responsibilities

I feel really proud of my small accomplishment this weekend, however minor it may be.  One of major vices is to buy coffee, especially Starbucks coffee and  I am committed to cut it out or least only for a very special treat.  For example, my sister gave me a coupon for a free drink but I cannot use until I finishd my summer coursework (see http://spendlessweighless.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-6-challenges-and-sabotage.html#links).  I am really, really close!  Anyway, I digress.  This weekend I worked my little side job working as a demostrator at Fred Meyer's.  Now, usually  I would buy coffee during my lunch break but this time, I was able to resist and drank from my waterbottle instead.  Yeah!  I am a dork, I know!

No more, no more!



Secondly, I had a meeting to discuss my new responisbility that I volunteered for--yikes!  My job is to procure as many donations for my son's school auction.  He is lucky that Portland Public Schools has such programs as the Chinese Immersion program and he will go to China next year!  But that takes money.  However, I feel the universe's call to take on this challenge for my professional growth.  I will have make phone calls, lots of phone calls, and stay on top of things.  I just pray that  I do it right.  So if you anything you want to donate, let me know! 

Day 16: Reunion

Last night my husband and I went to the Kennedy School at McMenniamins and but with some old college classmates.  All of us met going through our graduated teacher program at Portland State University.  While listening, I was struck by how many changes we have gone through.  Most of them have added on subjects endorsements such as Special Education, PE, English, Math, etc.  As for me, I just started working on my Library Media endorsement; I feel a little behind the power curve.  This is one of the my reason for this blog, so I can focus on move forward in my professional development and get a teaching job.  Although, this seems impossible in this economony--what a great accomplishment for me to get a teaching job despite the odds.  It would be something like Will Smith's "The Pursuit of Happyness"!

I want to get the great job and beat the odds!

      This week has sucked.  My shoulder hurt all week and I couldn't work out or walk.  So I will start again on Monday!  Have a great weekend and leave me your thoughts!



Day 13: Projects

So my sister came over and we went to Costco (I love this place but it can be a $ trap if you are not careful).  Our topic of conversation centered around projects and goals.  First, I need finish my summer coursework since the Fall term is getting ready to begin on Monday--yikes!  My classes are online and know that I will need/must  be disciplined, not my strong suit.  Second, hurting my shoulder has put me out for a week so I am beating myself about it.  Third, I am in charge of procuring donation items for my son's school auction, that will definately need consistant attention.  Finally, I have a million projects around the house I would to complete such has painting the house to make it more homey--it is still "landlord white".  Eventually, I want to work up the courage to ask my husband about cutting out the Direct TV, at least for the school year.  It would save about $700!  Unfortunately, cable for my husband represents a need even though it is a want.  *Sigh*

Day 10: Wounded

Spend Less Weigh Less: Day 6: Challenges and SabotageThis has been a slow weekend because I hurt my shoulder.  Our bodies are perfectly balanced to allow freedom of movement but when one little thing, like a pinched nerve in my left shoulder, is thrown off balance the whole body is affected.  ~Sigh~  Tomorrow, I plan on finishing my homework (project #1-see Spend Less Weigh Less: Day 6: Challenges and Sabotage) and driving down to Woodburn to celebrate my father's birthday.  Also, tommorow I sahll continue with my walking goal.  Goodnight everyone!

Day 8: Temptations

So as summer is rapidly fading into the rainy sky, the sub jobs are starting to call in (which is good), I have returned to work.  So today, I stumbled in meeting one of my goals.  In preparing for work, I packed my lunch, but bought coffee from the Starbucks today so I only got it half right.  Tomorrow I will start again.  However, so I did so well last week, I decided to reward myself with a new experience.  I met up with my friend Belladona and attended a meditation yoga chant called Kirtin chanting with the artist David Newman.  For the curious, checkout his website:
http://www.davidnewmanmusic.com/

My friend has been feeling sad lately, so an evening of beautiful and relaxing music was just the thing!  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Day 7: First weigh-in

     So I got on my scale this morning and nothing had changed!  So I have to ask myself why?  I know from previous diet attempts, that sometimes it takes a few days for what we ate to catch up with our bodies.  So what did I eat--pizza for one.  Now I am not saying that I can't have pizza ever, but maybe just pepperoni is not the best choice.  Second, and more importantly, I have been terrible about drinking water!  Sigh! 

      So now to regroup.  I have succeeded in reducing my spending habits this week and resised temptation.  Tonight, I am going out with a friend to listen to a musician, so I saved my money for an experience vs Starbucks (a huge vice of my).  Next week I will focus on drinking water and increasing my activity.  This next week, I will explore different options for activity beyond just walking (although please keep walking).  Catch ya later!

Day 6: Challenges and Sabotage

     Tuesday was a series of challenges for me, but I was proud myself for pushing through them.  My first challenge was my pedometer was not situation correctly on my hip so my steps did not count correctly.  According to my darling pedometer, I walked about 3,000 steps but I helped my mother out, cleaned her bathroom, and swept & mopped the floors.  Then, I made dinner, took my son to soccer practice, and cleaned the yoga studio, so my body was telling I walked about 10,000 steps (or more) so I am going to go with that number.
     My next challenge is one in which this blog is addressing.  Last Friday, I bought groceries for the whole week in which I will prepare my meals based on what I bought.  However, when I got home the dialogue in my head started rolling about being tired, don't have enough time, the kitchen is messing, blah, blah, blah.  I wanted to run out and buy some fast food due to convenience; but my goal is to spend less, weigh less.  So I took a deep breath, straightened up the kitchen and made my dinner.  All in all, I spent about 30 minutes making pizza, the same time it would take to buy pizza, and I saved my money for another day!
    Finally, my darling 12-year-old son announced that his brand new school clothes the he picked out no longer suits his tastes.  As a mother, I am not very materialistic. Goodwill suits me just fine, but my son is growing up and making things difficult.  So I left him with a choice, to either embrace his new wardrobe or wear the same three shirts everyday of his 7th grade year!
       The challenge of convenience vs commitment seems to come up often.  Convenience is a powerful motivator, but the same thing can be accomplished through organization and commitment.  Making pizza turned out to be quit simple once I decided to commit to the process; it was the commitment it self that was the hardest part.  Commitment is a challenge that come up often for me, especially when I fumble and make mistakes.  It is easier to opt out then push through; I will definitely need to work on this.  It reminds of an old Army saying, to "suck it up and drive on."  When I don't commit to the process I end up sabotaging myself, which is a saddening thought.  I doing this with grad school.  I haven't finished all my course work from the summer and now fall term is about to begin, but since I have fumbled and it is my fault I want to run, the more convenient path.  Just like with my dinner, what I need to do now is commit to the process, finish my work, and drive on.

So, enough of the heavy philosophizing!
Project #1 is:
                 complete is my coursework for the summer.

Day 5: Clean your way

Today, I almost lost my beloved pedometer but luckily I found it in my car; it never made into the school.  I was proud of myself because I packed my lunch and my snacks and did not stop to buy coffee.  This is a major accomplishment for me and my goal to reduce my spending habits.  I subbed in the afternoon and recognized a student from a long time ago.  Liam was in the Cbscouts with my son and his mother was the pack leader.  I left the pack because the mothers was a little too gossipy for me.  Oh well.  Liam was nice though. 

So I walked about 7000 steps; not bad.  Since I picked such a long "virtual" trail to walk on it will take more than a few days to complete but I am getting there.

While my health and exerise is one part of my blog, finishing the multitude of projects that I have started is the other part.  My first project is to cleann out my drawers, closets, and trunks.  I have too much stuff.
So one of my favorite blogs that I like to follow is http://minimalistadventures.blogspot.com/ , which talks about considering what possesions are truely important in your life.  By removing nonessential possesions you make room for other people and experiences to enter your life.  So I started cleaning my trunk and was surprised to find that several objects held no immediate memory for me; therefore, off to the Goodwill they will go.  It felt good to clean out my trunk.

Day 4: Volcano in the City

So I meant to post this last night, but the husband was "occupying" the computer.  Therefore, please ignore the date, and pretend this post is for Sunday, September 12th.

I decided to leave the neighborhood and take my dogs and my son on a long walk to Mt. Tabor .  Not only was it beautiful and relaxing (as we talked about Star Wars and cloning) but it was kind of surreal to think we were walking on an ancient volcano.  Mt. Tabor is one of the only volcanos to be found inside city limits (Portland, OR). 

As for my virtual walking tours, I decided to focus on a longer one that shall taking many days to complete.  We are now tranisitioning into fall which to me seems the perfect time for hiking, so come "hike" the Bruce Trail in Queenstion, Ontario, Canada with me:
 https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByuTQz-rkscvMDJlNGUyNGUtZDgwZi00ZWIyLTlhYTMtYThiOWQ1NzJhNDk1&hl=en

Day 2: Grocery Shopping

So today I planned out my menu and went grocery shopping--I know, really exciting?!  But, I got some snacks and fruit so that this coming week, so I will prepared.  I want to try to spend as little money as possible, meaning no more Starbucks ( "sigh"--this will be a hard one) or "emergency" trips to McDonald's.  Today I walked 9,442 steps, so I came close to my goal. 

Here are 2 more "virtual" walking adventures for you to enjoy:
Mall of America
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByuTQz-rkscvZjZlMjFhOTMtMGI2OC00ODc2LThjM2ItN2QwNGIyN2RiMGI4&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByuTQz-rkscvZjZlMjFhOTMtMGI2OC00ODc2LThjM2ItN2QwNGIyN2RiMGI4&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

Day 1: Wear your pedometer

Today was a little unusual in that I visited my mother in the hospital.  Dealing with breast cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation, having hip surgery was last thing that she needed.  Hopefully, my mother will recover and gain strength in her hip.  But enough of that.

Today, I want to talk about pedometers.  Pedometers are usefull because it tracks your natural activity which then can be applied toward your work out goal.  Ideally, one should walk 10, 000 steps a day.  That may include house chores, gardening, walking the dog or to the store; it does not have to be complicated.  The point is to just simply move.  More importantly, walking is natural, easy, and it is FREE!  So, instead of meeting your girlfriend at a coffeeshop, go for a walk instead.  Now, I live in Portland, OR, which rains like 300 days out of the year, so you really have to embrace the outdoors and the weather.  Still, keep an open mind!  So you ask where can I get this magic pedometer?  Well, odds are you might know someone who has one lying around the house; ask if you can have it.  Or ask your doctor's office.  Or maybe you already had a pedometer, dig it out of the draw and start using it.  Or you can buy one from REI, Fred Meyer (I live on the West Coast), Walmart, or Target; it is worth the investment.  Alright, I will stop now :)

Today, I walked 10,227, so I met my goal!  Here is something to get you started--this is a "virtual walk" published by Jenny Craig e-tools.  It is a 10-K "walk" around the Outer Park Drive Loop in Central Park, New York.  From time to time, I will post different "walks".
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByuTQz-rkscvNzBhYTdlMWItOGJhOC00ZmQzLWFmZTMtNmM4MWIwZDY3ZGQ2&hl=en

Last thing, I took a picture to log the start of my journey.  I currently way 247 lbs.  Yikes!

So why am I doing this?

So why this blog?  Originally, I was forced to learn about blogging when I had to create a website for graduate school--what a learning experience that was!  After that, I began to explore other people's blogs and I got hooked!  So now have decided to make the commitment to write one myself. 

So again, why this blog?  Well, I have struggled with weight my entire adult life, which is difficult when compared with my fabulously beautiful and thin sister.  However, we live on a teacher's income, with too many student loans to pay off, so I can't afford gym fees or a weight loss clinic.  So I am left to my own devices.  Furthermore, I don't want to spend a lot of money.  I like to live frugal and figure out how to do things for myself; it is like a game to me.  Besides, I learned this game from my mother and sister.  So let the games begin!

Here are my goals for the next year:

• Lose 50-100 lbs
• Pay down my student loan debt
• Join Toastmasters to practice public speaking (I really want a job)
• Finish all of my incomplete projects

Here are my rules:

• Through a combination of watching what I eat and exercise, lose 1-2 lbs a week                              (1-2 lbs a week x 52 weeks = 52-104 lbs)
• I will not but any new clothes until I reach a major weight goal and then it must be on sale, from a consignment shop, or I made it.
• I will keep track of my steps using a pedometer
• Complete all my projects that I have started
• Work out at least 3-4 times a week
• Journal what I eat

I hope to hear from many of your voices and that you will follow along with my journey!