Ok so I’m totally a summer girl.  I’ve got a pool in my back yard and I live in it for 3 months out of the year.  Winter is my least favorite time and that is because I always get the winter blues….So I’ve been reading the blogs today and I see that I’m not the only one with a case of the winter blues so I went to the ever trusty source GOOGLE and found the below article.  I really liked it so I thought I’d share.   And in case that doesn’t work, we’re officially 51 days from the first day of spring and that isn’t so bad!

10 tips for chasing the winter blues

1. Recognize the symptoms. Lethargy, lack of energy, depression, and strong feelings of uselessness are all part of the package.

2. Exercise. The last thing you want to do during wintertime is to go for a run, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to your local gym and sweat it out there. Take a day off from work and hit a gym with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and/or sauna. If you have to call in sick, go ahead. You’re not lying — you have a temporary mental illness and need to get your health back.

3. Let the sun shine in. Open your curtains and soak up the sun. Even through the glass, you will get a healthy dose of vitamin D and clear those cobwebs from your mind. Just 30 minutes a day can make a world of difference.

4. Get out of the house. It may be freezing outside and warm inside but if you don’t get out of the house the blues will just increase. A walk or even a drive can get the blood flowing and the mind glowing.

5. Book it. An old trick someone told me was to read a book or watch a movie that takes place in the desert or some other place that is extremely warm. Don’t know why it helps, just that it does. I know all there is to know about Lawrence of Arabia by now.

6. Get a sun lamp. I thought this idea was hogwash until I got one for Christmas a few years back. It’s not a cure but it does alleviate some of the symptoms.  (this one is weird to me but hey maybe Home Depot carries them haha!)

7. Sock it to you. Get some SmartWool socks to warm those icebergs you call feet. These are socks made from a fiber that utilizes your body heat. They cost a bit more than other socks, but having constantly cold feet is just miserable.

8. Talk it out with a friend. Misery loves company, and even though it seems like it, winter won’t last forever. Think positively and before long you will be complaining about the summer humidity.

9. Put down that drink. Sometimes it seems like the only thing that brightens your spirits is a giant glass of Scotch or other alcoholic beverage, but overdoing it can add a hangover to your misery and decrease circulation, which means even colder extremities.

10. Look for good deals and fly south for the winter. It doesn’t have to be all the way to Rio; a stay in Florida or on a Caribbean island should also do the trick. - Well we can’t all do this one BUT maybe its time for a Buddy Slim Luau!!!!!

Ok so if none of those work for you just go to Google and type in “Beat Winter Blues” and there are a bunch more articles. 

 Also just think.  These “extra” few months of cold weather just give us more time to get our bodies in shape for those revealing swimsuits!

 HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!!

Today is the day I burst out from the shadow of my old self…well at least my “weight ticker” does.  I just noticed that my little green weight was no visible.  Before you couldn’t exactly tell because it was always in the shadow of my starting weight.   I am actually kind of excited about that. 

 Also super excited about Biggest Loser tonight.  This is my first season of watching and I’m really enjoying the show.  I actually really like the team that went last week but it is still so interesting to see these people wither away in just a matter of weeks. 

Anyway, I’m BORED at work so I thought I’d just do a little post.  Hope everyone spirits are a little more lifted today!!!

Well guys, today is my weigh in day.  Since I started I have lost pretty big numbers 3 weeks in a row (7lbs-4lbs-4lbs.) I knew that couldn’t go on forever and that soon the honeymoon would be over.  Well that day is today.  I weighed in this morning and saw a meek little 1 pound loss.  I always say that a loss is a loss so trying to keep up that attitude here.  And with TOM in town to loose a pound is great right?  I’m not sure how bad TOM interacts with weight loss (sorry guys) so who knows if I can “blame” that situation or not? Hahaha!  But I’m going to be happy about my little 1 pound loss…..in a minute…..

Right now I want to just write down that I am disappointed - just because it is true and I think just letting it out there will help me get over it a little.  My head is going over everything I ate and I didn’t cheat and I exercised like a fiend.  (Muscle mass, I know but tell that to my brain!)  I was really hoping to continue with  2-3 pound losses for at least a few months but my brain and my body are on two different planets.  So yeah, I’m allowing myself THIS paragraph to be totally 100%  bummed about my teensy little boring 1 freakin’ pound this week and this paragraph only……

 OK!  Time to get back on track!  1 pound is equal to 4 sticks of butter and that is a lot.  1 pound is also equal to aprox 3500 calories.  1 pound of fat is one less burden to carry on my body.  1 pound is one more step towards my goal.  1 pound of fat looks disgusting
 - EW!  I lost that this week! SO I am done wallowing.  No more being bummed.  And hell, who knows what next week will bring if I keep up the good work!Happy Tuesday from the 1 pound so much lighter Jenn :o)

Ok guys, tonight is the night.  I’m putting on my “tight” jeans and takin’ my fat ass out to eat at Senior Iguana’s Mexican bistro…..I’m putting on the tight jeans to remind myself that if I don’t eat like a big old pig then I’ll soon FIT into these jeans comfortably!  And after Senior Iguanas I’m heading to the gym for a big time work out!  I’m going to  burn extra calories tonight!   

I haven’t seen a drop of movement on the scale so I’m nervous that this week won’t see much of a loss (especially worried about letting my fellow Hot Rods down) so I’m going to make sure not to indulge and work out like mad. 

 In case anyone didn’t think of this before.  I’m taking a small baggie of baked tostitos scoops for my “chips/salsa” this evening.  Salsa is zero WW points and 15 scoops (plenty!) are only 2 WW points.  This is a much healthier alternative!  The only draw back is the workers will probably look at me like I’m one of those grannies that steal all the Sweet-n-Low  packets!

Have a good night Buddies!

Okay until this week I’ve been like a damn general with my eating.  I’ve planned every meal down to my snacks.  I pack my lunch every day and have avoided restaurants like they are a plague.  I plan my grocery list and if it isnt on there it isnt going in the cart.  I’ve really be trying to regiment myself perfectly  and so far that has worked.  I really think avoiding these temptations has been key. 

BUT this week has turned out to be a very off week.  I’ve got several things to juggle (late meetings, doc appointment) and I’m finding it harder to regiment things this week which is causing me to panic a little.    Plus my exercise is suffering a little.  I have been trying to do at least an hour a night but so far I’ve had to slack back to 30 minutes a few nights this week.  And lastly I’m supposed to go to eat Mexican tomorrow with my water aerobics group.  I do have a plan for that though.  I’m going to get 1 cheese ench (8pts), refried beans (3 points), water (0 points), and take my own baked tostidos for the salsa (2 points)…which should work ok because I’m going to eat light the rest of the day and forgo my evening “snack.”   Gosh it makes me nervouse that is a bad decision?  I mean at some point I guess I’ll need to enter the real world right? 

 OK I’m telling myself to just breathe!  It is helping to write this out.  I’m a total “List maker” and I need organization to keep myself in line.  I guess I am just hoping that the scale doesn’t suffer becuase I’ve been good and I really want to stay on track!

BREATHE JENN!  haha!  TGIW!!!!

Whoo Hoo!  Today was my official weigh in and I’ve lost another 4 pounds since last Tuesday.  That makes 15 pounds total so far and I couldn’t be happier!  I still don’t feel thinner but that is coming I’m sure.  I really think my exercise is  paying off.  I’m obsessed with burning those calories away.  I actually have noticed a small increase in my stamina during my classes at the YMCA and I’m no longer totally out of breath after climbing the 1 flight of stairs at work.   I’m still extremely exhausted at night from doing all of this and don’t feel a huge increase of energy yet but you know - baby steps!  I’m just really happy I didn’t cave to emotional eathing this weekend.  This accomplished feeling absolutely out ”weighs” those pesky negative feelings any day!

Anyway, I’m eating my hard boiled egg white, banana, and whole wheat toast for breakfast with much adoration this morning and doing the happy dance!!! 

Happy Tuesday guys!

Well you guys, I have been at this hard core for a few weeks now.  I’ve been pretty specifically staying away from situations that I know could get me into trouble with eating poorly.  I haven’t been going out to eat anywhere and when I go to the movies I pack a little snack baggie of 2 point popcorn, etc.  I fully have prepared to “environmentally” protect myself from making poor food choices.  I’ve been been on enough of a “high” from losing weight so far to keep those pesky emotional habbits under control which is amazing. 

But until this weekend I didnt fully comprehend how much I’ve transformed as a person over the last few weeks.  I had a pretty emotional weekend.  My mom and I don’t get along.  We haven’t for years.  I moved out 2 weeks before my senior year and I’ve never been back.  We have some pretty conflicting views on things and well its just been bad for many years.  I don’t live in the same state as my mom (thank god) but this weekend she felt the need to drive 10 hours and show up at my house (unannounced) just to, well, be mean.  I won’t go into all the gore but after she left I had all these emotions and the “old Jenn” would have just eaten everything in the house and then gone out for fries….

But I found myself saying - eating isnt the answer - step away from the fridge.  I had a hard time yes but for a girl who thought that she had zero will power, Where did this come from???  I must say I had a little slip and drank a glass of hot chocolate at about 1am when I couldnt sleep but that was it. 

 So I hope this means that any other difficult emotional situations thrown my way will be handled with the same if not better will power.  I think this means the ‘new Jenn’ is here to stay!  *and even I am starting to believe it is possible!*

 Thanks for all the support, it is a big part of my success (so far) - Now I’ve just got to keep this up for another 150 pounds (ha!) ;o)

Well buddies.  I’ve hit my first real hard day since I started.  I’ve had a really really tough day, and on top of that I can’t sleep.  I’d like to raid the kitchen but I got on here in stead.  I guess it is my own personal “addiction meeting” and I’m glad to have this as an option.  I don’t want to burden you guys with all the crap.  I don’t think there are enough words anyway, but I’m having a really hard time today.  Good news is I worked out with a vengence earlier and plan to do so again tomorrow.  Hell if I keep wanting to go to the kitchen I’l work out a flippin midnight if I have to.  Anyway, just trying to keep myself busy.  Hope everyone else is well.  Thanks for listening - even if I didnt really write anything.

So 30 minutes left at work.  If this hasnt been the most blah day.  I’ve been pretty grumpy all day today and just blah.  This is normally a typical day where I’d try and “perk” myself up with a candy bar or something terrible for me.  You know, a little “pick me up”  - but despite a few small inner battles I made the decision that sometimes I’m going to have blah days and rather than trying to eat my way out of them like some hungry hippo I will just embrace them and say tomorrow will be better. 

So I haven’t cheated now for 11 days, nothing bad at all.  In fact I haven’t even gone out to eat (which is a big feat for someone who is used to 1/2 her meals made by someone else) or anything.   I’ve exercised every day for 10 days too.  I’m taking today off of the gym.  I am going to do some house work but nothing to strenous so today is my day to rest…which I need because my energy is just in the toilet (my hungry hippo is trying to force me to eat sugar but I’m not giving in!)  

I am feeling kind of guilty though about not going.  I don’t want to break the habbit or anything but a girl needs a break right?  I hope so.  Good thing is I’m super pumped about going to Turbo Kick tomorrow so I’m pretty confident this new me is sticking around for good.  Even if it is a totally blah day, I can celebrate that I am eating to LIVE, not living to eat!!!

WOW!  I said NO THANKS to a cupcake not even 5 minutes ago.  I opted for a 1 WW point lemon cake instead.  The office always gets a dessert and card for birthdays and it seems to always be someone’s birthday each month.  Sure the cupcakes are still in there…but just say no right? RIGHT! right? hahaha!  Happy No CUPCAKE Wednesday!