Muppet in October

[muppet]

I think I'm going to give up trying to record anything too formally here. I have a hectic couple of months ahead of me, and I won't be able to keep it up the way I would like. And that always disappoints me, no matter what the reason is, so rather than trying to record every day, I'll just journal when I can, and call that good enough for now. When things settle down, I'd like to get back to a more formal record of what I've been doing, but for now, this will have to do.
I have been super busy and stressed out about our upcoming move. But now we have sold our house and bought another one. I know we'll be moving sometime in early November. What a load off!
I spent most of Sept. sick with one thing or another. I'm still not 100% better, but I feel like if I don't at least try to be healthy and get some exercise, I never will recover completely.
Today is my 19th wedding anniversary. It's also a Monday-- a good day to start establishing new habits.
I let my illnesses and stress over selling the house be an excuse to eat poorly and not get exercise. The exercise might be legitimate, because not as much as I used it. And there's nothing better for stress than exercise, so it was doubly bad that I let is slide.
Today I have been out for a 4 mile walk. It felt good. The weather has finally changed to fall-- it has been so hot this past week! I think that was a big part of my lack of motivation too. I am so sick of being hot! So I'm very happy that it's cooled off and we can look forward to highs in the 60's for most of this week.
Eating right is, as always, a struggle for me. But I know that I have to eat right to feel my best, and after a month of feeling crappy, I'm ready to feel good again! I want to feel strong and healthy.
I did something to my right elbow this summer. I think I strained it when I was doing a lot of painting, and I also think I injured it at a water park we went to this summer. I can't specifically remember hitting it, but I went down a lot of slides, and I'm sure I whacked it a few times. But anyway, it won't get completely better. I feel like it's improving, and then I use it too much and it gets worse again. It's been like that -- gets a little better, then worse-- for the last few months. I'm really trying not to use it. I wasn't very careful last month and was moving heavy furniture and lifting kids, and I know that wasn't good for it. But I've been trying to ice it every day for at least a half hour, and trying to use it as little as possible. Maybe it just needs the chance to heal properly. It's very hard though, to let it rest.

[FrugalSue]

Congratulations on your anniversary! I am always glad to read what you write, whether you do it regularly or sporadically. I hope things settle down for you now that you're not having as much illness and the stress of wondering about houses. Congrats also on getting your house sold! The market just isn't what it used to be. My next-door neighbor has had his house on the market for many months. (It's a weird house, though--too big for a single or couple, but it doesn't have a yard for kids to play in.) Anyhow, thanks for posting.

[Missy]

Congrats on your anniversary!!

[muppet]

I started out so well today. But didn't end up that way!
I watched TBL tonight, and parts of it really got to me. Things that I struggle with were addressed. I'm not a drinker, so that's easy for me to skip, but it's the same principle. One drink once in a while won't kill you or ruin your diet. Key point --"once in a while". And for me, it's not a drink, it's chocolate, or pizza or french fries.... Once in a while does not mean every day. Once it a while does not mean if you give in once a week, that you go supersize, or eat half a large pizza.
Once we get moved, I want to explore more healthy recipes. I don't mean I'm not going to try and eat healthy until we move, but I don't have the time or motivation right now to try to recipes. But you can eat healthfully, simply. I'll try and stick with that for now.
I am a frozen food junkie. I think these are great to take to work, or in a pinch, but I rely on them entirely too much.
A co-worker told me she thought I'd lost some weight. I don't see how that would be possible, since I've been eating so poorly. And I'm scared to step on the scale! I'm quite sure I haven't lost, but maybe I haven't gained either. My clothes really don't feel different.
Thanks for the happy anniversary wishes!

[FrugalSue]

I'm really concentrating on eating fresh, simple, local and organic--in that order. It seems to be working. Not only am I slowly continuing to lose weight, but I've had a lot fewer colds, flus, etc. over the past year than I used to get. When you're ready to start cooking healthy recipes, check out the Healthy Eating group on myspace. It's an excellent resource.

[muppet]

I did a little better with eating today. Probably because most of the true junk was gone! I also did some cardio and toning exercises. Baby steps! My belly is just a problem area for me. It's what bothers me the most. So I did do some ab work, but I know that really won't make a difference unless I lose some FAT!
I have to work tomorrow. I wish I didn't. Since I teach preschool, I thought it would be best if I stepped away from teaching and directly working with the kids, and let the new teacher take over. I still think that was a good decision, and what is best for the kids. I also don't have to plan, which means I don't take any work home with me either. But I am doing a lot of snack prep and cleaning, and I have to admit I'm sick of it. Maybe because I have had to work so hard at keeping my house 100% clean all the time, that cleaning at work as well has really gotten to me.
I'm staying till the end of October. I guess the good thing about me being absolutely sick of my job, is that it's taking the emotional aspect of leaving away. I do get emotional, and am sad to be leaving. But another part of me will be saying, ' Good Riddance!'. I will miss the kids and staff terribly, but it will be easier to say good bye since I haven't been working directly with them as much as I used to.
I am excited about what prospects there might be in my new town. I don't want a job right away. I'd like to get settled in first, and then just see what presents itself. My husband has brought up a few jobs he's seen advertised, but they seem like jobs more suited to him than to me. I know he's just trying to be helpful, but I think I would like to decide on my own what I might be suited for.
Well, I'm off to bed. I recorded Kid Nation tonight. I haven't watch but one episode of this, but I've heard a lot about it, and thought it might be worth a second look. Maybe it will put me to sleep!

[muppet]

Rats! I tried to record TBL last night, but must have his the wrong channel. I hope when we move we get TIVO, or some DVR set up, so I don't have to mess with VCR's anymore!
I got a bike ride in this morning. This fall has not been the best weather wise-- so far anyway. It's either been hot, or cool and rainy, but it was pretty good this morning. I finally have a day where I really don't have to go anywhere, except to the video store to return some movies. It's been a long long time since I had a day like this. Love it!
The bike ride felt great. I feel like I really worked out, and am physically tired, but not the same kind of wiped out tired I've been feeling lately. I think diet and exercise are so important in keeping us mentally as well as physically well. I have experienced in September the havoc stress can reek on your physical well being. It makes it tougher to eat right, it robs you of sleep, and makes you feel yucky, for lack of a more professional word.
And while I don't believe in those drugs that are supposed to block coritsol, or whatever they are to help you lose belly fat, I do believe that stress does cause you to gain weight. Partly because we tend to overeat and not exercise, but also partly because of this hormone. I think we need to look at health in terms of mental and physical-- both equally important.
Peaceful, calm, content, happy, strong. These are my goals.

[FrugalSue]

I believe you can watch Biggest Loser on your computer. I haven't tried it, but I have with some other shows.

[muppet]

I'll check into that. It seems like I tried to watch something once, and I didn't have the right thing downloaded on my computer, and for whatever reason, I couldn't download it then. But it's certainly worth another look. I'd really like to see this episode.
I am feeling sore today, but it's a good feeling. I have a sore rear end from the bike ride. It really had been a long time since I've ridden. And I also decided to do some pilates. I have a DVD that I got a long time ago, but I only must have done it once, or maybe not at all, because I didn't remember anything about it. I really don't like pilates, but I do think it's very necessary for me to do something to tone up my core. It was plenty hard. I felt really out of shape because there were quite a few things that I couldn't even begin to do. But you can only start from where you are. I know I'll improve as long as I consistently work at it. I'm always cautious about what I try to take up. I know I have to enjoy it enough so that I will do it consistently enough to actually see some results. So I'm really going to try and keep this up. I figure if I get better at it, I might start to enjoy it. I used to not enjoy biking at all, but an injury forced me to do it instead of walking. Now I love it and wish I could do it more. There's a wall, or something like it, that you have to get over whenever you start something new. To get over it, you have to keep trying.. you have to get familiar and comfortable with the new activity. So pilates deserves the effort. I think I will love the results, if I can just get more at ease doing it.
I got an F with my eating today. Not going into details. Trust me -- it was bad.
I had a few discussions with coworkers about dieting and eating. One coworker is quite heavy, but has lost weight. She does not restrict her food much at all. And she really enjoys her food. I think she'd like to lose more weight, but is comfortable being plus size.
I don't think it's practical to be really restrictive with your food, but I also think that you need to face reality and realize that you do have to say 'no' to a lot of things. I have a hard time with these restrictions.
I'm not about to ban chocolate completely from my diet. So some part of my brain tells me that if I'm not going to ban it -- if I am going to allow myself to eat it occasionally, then why not eat it now? Same goes for pizza, french fries, etc...
I really don't want, and don't think I could say 'NEVER' to any of these foods. I probably should for awhile. Start with a week, then a month. It's probably best for me to not have them at all. To get them out of my system, so to speak.
I really really really want for food to just be food. To serve the purpose of fueling and nourishing my body. I want to enjoy it, but not have it control me. I want to be in control. And, here's the kicker, I want it to be easy. Which is probably what most people want, and what makes us such suckers for every new diet and pill and gimmick that promises to solve all our issues and make it easy.
IT IS NOT EASY! IT WILL NEVER BE EASY!!!
Here's to getting tough!

[muppet]

I am a processed food junkie. I love the ease of it. Since my husband is working at his new job and we won't be joining him till November, I have been eating more and more of this. He's been away since the end of August. I do see him most weekends, but without him here to cook for, I just go for the frozen and take the easy way out.
I also confess -- I've been hitting the fast food. I have eaten some fries, but at McCrap's I have been getting the fruit and yogurt instead.
Anyway, right now I am so sick of lean cuisine's. My kids are quite picky, and don't eat a large variety of food. They do eat fairly good stuff, but like things simple and easy. So they really are no fun to cook for, because they always want the same things. They never want to try anything new.
At first I enjoyed not having to cook much, but now I'm so sick of eating this food......
After we get moved I really am going to stop buying it for awhile. I won't be working right away, so I won't need them for lunches, which is my excuse for buying them now. I think I need to go cold turkey, and then maybe after get used to eating real food, then I can ease a few of these things back into my diet for an occasion treat, or a quick fix. I don't ever want to rely on them like I have been doing.
I can really feel my Pilates workout today! Sometimes when I'm doing it, I don't feel like I'm really working my abs, but I did! They are sore--- and it feels good.
I watched part of Oprah the other day. I'm really not much of a fan of hers, but sometimes she does have interesting guests and topics. The lady that was on has written books about women's health. They were focusing on one about menopause. I know it's probably not that far off for me -- I will be 44 in December. But they were talking about perimenopause, which can affect women a lot younger than I am.
I liked what I heard because it was about taking care of yourself, and how you are almost reborn at this time. You go from caretaker of everyone else, to figuring out who you really are. She talked about how important diet and exercise were. And also how important it is to have joy in your life. I know how bad stress and unhappiness can be for you. Joy and happiness are the opposite.
How do you make yourself happy? I don't really know. I am basically happy, but I don't know how to take all stress and worry out of my life. It's so important for out health to take care of emotional issues as well as physical ones.
I don't think I will be happier 'when I lose weight'. I know I will feel better physically, and I know I will be happier because I will look better and I will be proud of my accomplishment, but it won't drastically change my life. And that's ok, because I love my life. I'm excited for the changes coming up.
Rambling, rambling.... I'm just talking to myself. I don't have any wisdom or insight -- just sorting things out in my head.