A little more before and after

So the picture on the left was from about 2 years ago. One of my kindergartners grabbed my phone and took a (very unflattering) picture. 60 pounds later is the picture on the right. I really can't believe the difference until I see it in photos. Let me tell you it's been really nice fitting into normal size clothes. I've gone from a tight 16 pants and xl top to a size 6 pants and Medium top. I'm pretty happy with my size right now, I just have some toning in the belly area to work on. My goal weight is only 16 pounds away, but I honestly don't care if I get there or not. I'm actually happy with how I look right now...and that's the best feeling in the world.

This is my rant

I am a teacher. I don't do it for the money or the glory. I am not a super hero. I am human. There are rules in place to keep your child safe. Some people get angry because of these rules. Sometimes mistakes get made...again, we're human. Budgets get cut, so teachers get cut. My average class is 40 students. I don't just "have fun" all day with your kids. I teach them how to sit criss cross apple sauce, how to raise their hand when they want to speak, how to manage their time properly, how to play nice with others, how to put a bubble in their mouth in the hallway, how to say please and thank you, oh, and how to sing.

My days are not always filled with joy and sunshine, but I have to put on a happy face for my kids no matter what's going on in my life. This is not an easy job...especially now.

So please remember when we do make a mistake (and we will), yelling at us isn't going to solve the problem. The first day of school is always going to be chaotic...no matter where you go. You may have to wait longer to pick up your child from the car rider line. Five hundred other parents had the same idea you did.

Just be patient with us. Teachers need positive reinforcement too!

The big Five - OH!

I'm happy to say that 50 pounds are gone! Yay me! Now, I'm not big on having my picture taken anywhere from the chest, down. It took quite a bit of looking to find a "before" picture...and it's not even at my fattest!

This was actually taken in 2007 on our family cruise. I'm about 8 pounds from my heaviest. Ugh!

And this...was taken today! :o)

If it weren't for my dang boobs, I'd probably look a little slimmer. I still have 26 more pounds until my goal, but what a difference 50 pounds makes!

Slow and steady sucks

This losing weight stuff is for the birds. So how long ago was that last post? Like, forever ago. I had 5 pounds to lose. Five measly pounds! And in all that time, I've lost just 3 of them. And I worked my butt off (literally) for those 3 pounds. So just 2 more until the 50 pound mark. It really does get harder the closer you get to your goal. But I am proud to say that I'm in a size 8 bottom. We just won't talk about the top. I'm still a little top heavy, but I'm working on it. And I may eventually meet up with a surgeon to take care of that issue.

Just 5 more!

Okay, just 5 more pounds and I'll be at a big milestone! I'm on the scale every day. I know I shouldn't be, but I just can't help it. I've finally broke my plateau that I'm not sure I already wrote about.

But I think I worked out too hard yesterday. I wore my heart rate monitor while doing Zumba, and when I finished, it said I had burned over 600 calories! I think I actually did a double take on my watch. That's almost double what I normally burn. I guess I upped my intensity quite a bit. I was all excited about it until today when I woke up. I've felt like a slug all day. I probably should have eaten more yesterday. Lesson learned.

You know what makes me a little happier?...

A NEW CAR!

It's my responsible dream car. I have other dream cars, but they would just be dumb ideas right now. It's a Toyota Camry. Actually it's Joe's car (my Corolla is gonna last FOREVER)...don't you just love Toyota?

Puppy didn't like sliding around in the back seat, so I put his seat in.

Ya, we're pretty happy with it.

Weight for it...

So I've realized that blogging isn't really my thing. I can never think of anything that's really blog worthy. Although I'm always out and about and think of something really awesome. But by the time I get home and on the computer, the thought's gone.

And I do take lots of pictures, but I don't think anyone wants to see pictures of my garden (I surprisingly haven't killed yet) or my dog. I don't have any fun baby stories because I don't have any babies. I know...I'm a sad little creature. Until then, you're going to have to read about me...just me.

And unfortunately, the one thing that consumes my life right now is my weight. So that's what you get to hear about. Exciting, I know.

I'm about 6 pounds from hitting the big 5-0. This is a big hurdle for me. I've never lost 50 pounds before (and yes, I HAVE needed to in the past). Fifty pounds is when you get to see before and after pictures. I'm still working on getting those 6 pounds off my belly.

I recently found a full body picture of myself at very near my heaviest (about 8 pounds less than my heaviest). I refused to take any pictures below my neck before all this began. I think I was in fat girl denial. But it's a good representation of how round I really was. So when the time comes (hopefully in the very near future) I'll be showing you what a difference 50 pounds makes...that's like half a skinny person!

The Unknown

This is the time of year where teachers everywhere start thinking about greener pastures...or maybe it's just me. It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that I hate my job. And I don't just think it's the place I work (although it IS sucking the life out of everyone who works there). Teaching's no fun anymore. You have to be too careful what you say and what you do. Administrators don't have your back anymore. Parents expect you to be miracle workers.

Our district has taken a huge budget blow for next year. Teachers getting RIFed (Reduction In Force) or transferred against their will. Unfortunately, this house was not unaffected. Joe was transferred from a job he loved at the high school to being the ONLY band director at one of the poorer performing middle schools. We've also been told that at the elementary level, PE, art, and music will be the only "specials" rotations at the school. That means 140 kids will be split between 3 classes. Doesn't that sound like a GREAT idea??!! Ya, we're really excited too. I don't know about you, but teaching 45 kindergartners at a time just sounds like the time of my life.

So the job hunting has begun. I have zero training and experience in anything but teaching, so you can imagine my resume has NOT been getting a lot of hits from employers. Personally, I think being a teacher qualifies me for a lot of jobs, but tell that to the guys at HR.

Dieter for life

Every 6 weeks or so, I have an appointment with a dietitian...and I can't believe I actually paid money to this person. I suppose it's kind of like going to a Weight Watchers meeting, without the group support. Why don't I just go to a Weight Watchers meeting? I don't know, but this dietitian hates Weight Watchers...mua ha ha ha ha! I feel like I'm doing something naughty by doing WW too, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.



So my dietitian wants me to keep a food journal. I don't even keep up with blogging about my life. What makes him think I'm going to write down EVERYTHING I eat? And every time I go see him I have to lie about pretty much everything. Not that I'm NOT doing what he's asking, but I have no idea how much protein is in the casserole I made last night.



Here are the questions I get asked every 6 weeks:



D: What are you doing for exercise?

Me: Zumba, Walking, Other Workout DVDs.



D: Are you using resistance bands?

I always lie and say yes. He's very testy about this, so I just lie. I know, I'm bad.



D: How many calories do you take per day?

Me: About 1300-1400. I actually have no idea. When I use to write everything down, this was what it was. I just don't care to write anything down again...ever.



D: How much protein?

Me: 50-60 grams. He keeps ragging on me about my low protein intake...LOW? Seems like a lot to me!



D: Are you drinking enough water?

I'm so sick of these stupid questions. Do people actually tell the truth? Again, I lie so I don't get him on his soapbox.

Me: At least 60 ounces.



I've told him before about my water situation, but he doesn't care. As a teacher it's difficult (impossible) to give yourself bathroom breaks throughout the day. My only time off is first thing in the morning. After 9:15 if I need a restroom break, it's "so sorry, no time". Needless to say I don't drink ANYTHING during the school day. But it's ALL I drink on my way to work and after school. I pretty much gave up cokes.



So since my last appointment 6 weeks ago, I had only lost 2 pounds. I was pretty stinkin' proud of those 2 pounds. He just kept telling me how much more I could have lost had I drank more water, and upped my protein, and not had that one cookie I let myself have at that baby shower. I think he does it on purpose to piss me off at him enough to lose the weight to spite him. That's pretty much how I feel now. He is the devil.

Random post

Since I'm home sick today, I thought I'd take the time to actually post something!

The weight loss is coming smoothly, but VERY slowly. I think I've just got over my latest plateau thanks to Slim Fast and Fiber One...oh, and Zumba! I just bought the DVDs and LOVE them! I had tried it a few years ago with some friends, but I hadn't done the "Learn the steps" section, and had no idea how to do anything. Needless to say it was frustrating and I stopped. But I love it now. One more pound down. And many, many more to go!

I've been very restless lately in my job. I'm not sure if it's what I do, or just where I'm doing it. Some days I really do enjoy myself, but not most. I've been giving a lot of thought to getting out of teaching, but my college degree is crap to employers.

And in other unrelated news, I'm still not pregnant.

4 Months To Go

I know my days at my current job are numbered once the school year ends. And depending on this Saturday, maybe even before then. By my choice, of course.

There's a new school opening up next school year in the same district. It's considered a "Green School". There's a giant water run off container at the front of the school where the toilet water is recycled from rain water. Most classrooms have giant windows so they can use more natural lighting. The school is beautiful. The music room sucks, but the rest of the school is awesome. I plan on being the first music teacher in that building. I've already started bugging the new principal. I've found people who know her, and tell them to mention my name to her. She wants me to call her when the position is posted. I'm pretty stinkin' excited.

And then there's this Saturday...

Me and a friend from work (who hates her job even more than me) are going to a job fair Saturday morning. We have to take our passports. And if we're hired on the spot, we'll be going overseas by April. It pays REALLY well, so going overseas for a year is NO problem. I'm pretty stinkin' excited about that too! :o)

It's All Too Much

Okay, so I'm feeling a little bit better than yesterday...a little more focused. All holiday decorations are put away. That was step one. My mother in law is understanding about my anxiety with my clutter, so she sent me this audio book.

It's actually really good. It's good motivation when you just don't feel motivated. I'd take before and after pictures of my de-cluttering, but I must say I'm pretty embarrassed by the mess. We'll see.

Moody Judy

I've been avoiding the blog. Mainly because I've been a negative, moody mess. My house is a giant pig sty. I don't know how this happens with only 2 people living here.

I've had the hiccups for the last 30 minutes.

My Christmas decorations are still up.

I think I've got A.D.D.

Resolutions

I usually try not to make new years resolutions. The only reason being that I don't like breaking promises to myself. Silly, I know, but I've NEVER kept a new years resolution.

But this year I'm going to make one. And it's going to be a tough-y. I WILL get pregnant this year. And I'm going to do everything in my power to do it. Charting, temping, testing. I think I'm ready to do it all again.

There was a time a couple years ago I had done all this before. Months of taking my temperature EVERY morning, charting everything I could think of, trying to time everything just right. I got burned out.

But I'm ready to start it up again. And I think this is gonna be the year. :o)