What a workout!

Today I over ate.

By 17 points. Wow. It was one of those things where I simply didn't care that I was having what I was eating. I tracked it. But wow.

On a happy note, today at kickboxing we had a two hour bootcamp to raise funds for Relay for Life. Given the events of this past week, I thought that it was very fitting. Tonight, I worked out and did my best to keep going for the two hours in Oscar's memory.

Our group raised $284.00 through donations and from the look on my face, you can tell I was excited!

R.I.P. Uncle Oscar

Getting to Know you Sunday

For some reason, doing this post kind of makes me happy and takes my mind off the sad for a while. I spent the morning working in our garden and I'm feeling the benefits of it. I have to clean up the kitchen and get ready for a pre-planned supper with the in-laws and finish up on some bridal shower invites for a girl at work.


1. If you could star in any movie genre..what would it be..romance..horror..comedy..suspense or action?


It would be a romantic comedy musical. I love romcoms and singing, so it would be the perfect set for me. Or a zombie movie. I also love zombie movies and am an avid Left 4 Dead series gamer. Just tons of fun!

2. Do you recycle?

We recycle bottles and cans here at home. We don't use much paper, so I'm thankful for that. I try to reuse or refurbish most things as well. At work I recycle and reuse as much as possible.
3. Have you ever been to a strip club?

Noooooooo. I drive by one on my way home from kickboxing, though...and I saw people go into it. If that counts? Otherwise, it's just not my thing. And that's no offense meant to those who work there, either....

4. Do you have a nickname?

Quite a few. My family calls me Christa. My husband has a number of names for me. My favourite that some people call me is Princess. Possibly because I wear a tiara at work sometimes....

5. What's a name you can't stand to be called?

M'am. It makes me feel 100 years old!

6. What are your Summer staples?

Propane for the BBQ, lol. Though we bbq year round. I'd say in all seriousness, my suntan lotion. As a fair redhead, I burn very easily.

7. What was the last thing you bought for yourself?

A pair of shorts at Old Navy....and propane for the BBQ this morning!

8. Are you happy with your boob size?

Well, not in proportion to how my body is now after the weight loss. They seem very small in comparison to my thigh/stomach area. But I'm sure they'll eventually match. If my lower half matched my top half, I'd say my boobs are just the right size!
 
Now's your turn!
Head over to Mannland to play!

Saying Goodbye

A couple of posts back I spoke about my uncle Oscar who had lung removed because of cancer. The following day he was up and on a great road to recovery.

I found out this morning that he has now taken a drastic turn for the worse and he's not expected to survive the night.

He has suffered a heart attack, largely blocked arteries, cannot breathe on his own and is running a heart rate of 164 which they cannot lower.

He's in Mass. I'm in New Brunswick. It's hard not being able to say goodbye in person. But here, I can say thank you for being such a wonderful man and uncle. He made me comfortable in a step-family that many of them did not care for our addition. But he was different. So fun. So full of life. So absolutely wonderful.

Our world will be a darker place without Oscar. And I can only hope that I am good enough in this world to see him in the next.

I love you Mon Oncle.

Ugh....

I gained.

0.2lbs.

I know that it's not much, but I felt like this week could be so much better since I cut out the packaged foods. It's my first gain since I started this blog and I really feel let down today. I'm an emotional eater, too, so it's like I have this need to run and eat. I'm going to try to control myself at lunch, but honestly....

I'm going back to my other weeks where I had good losses and eating the same things as I did then...which means a lot of packaged foods. But like my husband said, maybe I need those packaged food additives to keep me going?
I went to Old Navy to pick up some shorts for a trip. The store here is very unorganized and it's the first time I was there in years. When I was going before I was fitting in size 20. Back then I was 25lbs bigger then (going by my old WW weigh-in books). The shorts I bought today were a size 18 and fit just well. The 16's would have been a good fit, if a little snug in the zipper area, but they were ridiculously short....very short. Like indecent.

My husband got grumpy because I spent some time in the store, so he was grumpy on the way home (we were running other errands this morning, too). Which makes me grumpy now.

And around me, my friends all had great weigh ins this week. I honestly don't know what I'm doing different than they are. I've got to find something to boost myself. Maybe a nap is in order to restart the day?

So far...so full!

Well, I'm three days into my no packaged me and I have to say...I'm a lot fuller.

The baked oatmeal is absolutely fantastic. I will be sharing the recipe with co-workers tomorrow since some of them were interested. I do miss my Smart Ones Quesadillas, so I think I'll re-integrate them, but with the help of some baked oatmeal.

Out of habit I have a banana or apple after my breakfast at work, though I know I could well do without it.

Lunchtime is proving to be more filling than I thought it would be. Armed with either beans, eggplant or a toasted sandwich and a salad, I find that I am getting through my lunch and long after I don't need to reach for my afternoon snack.

I'm proud of myself for trying this. Out of convenience, I'll buy some frozen foods, but I'll make it a priority to have some homemade lunches on hand for the bulk of the week.

I'm most excited to see how the scale will react on Saturday. I'm hoping for a bigger loss than the 0.8 loss of this pass weekend. Onederland is still very close!

Cooking Up A Storm!

In preparation for no frozen foods or packaged snacks for me this week, I spent the afternoon cooking up a storm!

I started off with crock pot beans. It's a recipe a co-worker gave me that I really enjoy. It's smokey, bbq flavoured with mustard. I decided to oomph it up a bit by mixing in some chilli ingredients like diced tomatoes, mushrooms and onions. I have to say that it turned out a bit soupy, a mix between the bean recipe and my usual chilli mess. But it tastes absolutely awesome!

I then moved on to the Hungry Girl recipe for No-Harm Eggplant Parm. It was so simple to make, until I realized that what I thought was a bottle of spaghetti sauce was actually salsa. Well, I figured it had a kick and a tomato base, so why not toss it in there. I also forgot the important step of baking the eggplant once it was coated. Oops. But once I pulled it out of the oven, I don't think any of my slip ups are actually noticeable!

My next task was the baked oatmeal. I've seen some bloggers make it before and it looked pretty interesting. Since I'm going to need a replacement for my Weight Watchers Smart Ones Breakfast Quesadilla (seriously the best thing to come out of a freezer and into a microwave in a long time), baked oatmeal it is! I didn't have any sugar free apple sauce, but I did have sugar free jam. So I figure, it's fruit, that's fruit...why not?  I tossed in some mixed berries too for fun. I think it looks awesome, it smells divine...I can't wait for tomorrow morning!

Just about to come out of the oven now is the bran raisin muffins, made from a mix. Hey, a girl can't be Martha every moment of the day!

Here's to a great week of food. I can't wait to report in tomorrow!

Getting to Know You Sunday

Courtesy of MannLand it's Getting to Know you Sunday! Something I am getting to look forward to considering that Sundays are so drab with Monday following suit.

But for the moment, I whoop it up like it's Saturday morning and I had Friday off, lol.

1. Mens chests..hairy or hairless?

How about a spattering of hair? I think hairless and it brings visions of those greased up MMA fighters the girls at work talk about. Hairy and I think Harry and the Hendersons. So a nice spattering of the inbetween is fine by me!
2. How often do you run red lights?
Never. I'm actually a pretty cautious driver. I sometimes will run a yellow, though, if I figure I don't have time to stop. Which is illegal in town, now, actually...hmm...living life on the edge!

3. If you could raid any celebrity's closet..whose would you raid?
I'd have to say Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway. I think they both pull off that graceful, comfortable and classic looks which are just absolutely gorgeous.

4. Would you rather have more followers/friends on Facebook, Twitter, or your Blog?
Hmmm...I'd say Blog! I think it is such a great place for thoughts and support.
5. What makes you feel sexy?
My husband. He never makes me feel anything less than perfect.
6. I get excited when...........?
Oh lord...I get excited very easily. It could be finding money in a winter jacket, having the perfect cup of coffee or a really nice day. Just makes my day and then some.

7. Are you the "outdoorsy" type or more "indoorsy"?
Indoorsy. I enjoy walking and spending time relaxing outside, but you wouldn't find me roughing it in the woods or anything like that.

8. Would you rather have your dream home or a million dollars?
I would say a million dollars. My dream home would include way too high property taxes, ha ha.

Ready....Set...Go!

The groceries have been bought and I didn't buy a pre-packaged meal or snack. That was difficult considering that the Smart Ones were on sale at a very good price. But I walked by them, along with the frozen pizzas, Fiber One bars and 100-calorie snack packs.

What I did fill up on was fresh and frozen fuits and veggies, bran muffin mix (I figure this can replace my Fiber Ones), and Kozy Shak tapioca. Still pre-packaged, but I figured I'd give it a go as a morning mix with the fruit. And it will replace my usuall FF Jell-O pudding (mmm..sweet chocolate).

One of the things I am most excited about is preparing a few meals for the week to get me through lunches (I usually eat 8-9 pts including a pudding) and when the husband is working through suppertime. I bought a large eggplant and will be making the Hungry Girl "No Harm Eggplant Parm" recipe for an uber filling meal! Check out how good this looks:

I can't wait to dig in!

Kickboxing is tonight and I'm hoping that it'll bring me down on the scale. I haven't been up very high (I fluctuate as high as 5lbs during a week) but normally I see a lower number by Friday. Let's see if a serious butt-kicking will move me tonight, ha ha

On another note, my uncle Oscar went into surgery yesterday to remove a cancerous organ. From my cousin's update to the family, he advised us that his right lung was removed as it was full of cancer and black. They completely closed off that airway and connections through to the heart. They removed a rib and replaced it with a chest muscle they secured to the heart. Uncle Oscar was a heavy smoker and sun worshiper and one of the best men that God has ever graced this earth with.

I'm happy to know this morning that he is up and eating jello, drinking water and does not need a breathing tube or oxygen. He will be in pain for a while and I'll continue to pray for his recovery. But I can't help but think of how much more strongly I feel against smoking and the adverse effects of sunworshiping. I'm all for getting my Vitamin D, but will continue to do so with a high SPF.

Something to think about.

Pre Packaged Me

I'm setting a goal for myself next week. Writing it down makes it all the more real, especially since someone else will be seeing this goal.

I am a Frozen Food kind of gal. At lunches, and most breakfasts, I will grab a Weight Watchers Smart Ones and tote it along to work. I pair it up with some fresh fruit for breakfast and a veggie lovin' salad for lunch. It's quick, I don't have to think too far ahead and I know the points right away.

I also love these meals. The WW Breakfast Quesadilla? Heaven! The Salisbury Steak with Asparagus? Nummers!

I'm also a fan of Healthy Choice bowls and Lean Cuisine. Pre-Packaged lifestyle has been me.

Until now.

I've read some other bloggers have done this and as I reached for my breakfast and lunch boxed meals, I thought, gee, I should really have more fresh and less frozen.

My goal is for Monday to Friday of next week to resist the pre-packaged items as much as possible. I will use egg beater egg whites to make my egg muffins for the week. And if I get cranky, a girl may need to indulge in some Vitatop lovin' or some other kind of chocolate indulgence.

But there it is. I have a goal. Fresh food for a week.

I think I can do this! I'd like to see if it changes anything on the scale, too!

Eat it and weep

So the husband was home before I was and he made rice and chicken for supper, two of my favourite things :)

That being said, it was a breaded frozen chicken we picked up in groceries. I knew it wasn't the healthiest choice, but he really wanted to try it. It was filled with garlic butter.

garlic.
butter.

Again, two of my other favourite food items. I wish I had remembered to take a picture of it before I wolfed it down in an eating frenzy. I sliced into it and suddenly my veggies and rice were awash in garlic butter. There must have been at least a quarter of a cup of melted butter on my plate.

The chicken was 9 points. It was a good size and even though it brought me into my weekly points....it was worth it. Next time, though, I'll make sure to plan my day around the chicken.

Tomorrow is my day to cook. I'm thinking of doing a roast or a pork loin in the slow cooker while I'm at work and hubby is enjoying his day off. There's something about slow cooking that when you get home and it's waiting for you, just makes me a happy girl!

Can't Win for Losing

Well...this has just been a horrible week for me emotionally. One of the kind that you don't know what's up and what's down and just what to say or do.

Work has been hard on me socialwise. I had a disagreement with a girl on another team regarding our seating. This is a girl who is an "ultra sensitive" person and can put on the big kitty tears and get everyone to sympathize with her. Yeah...you're getting my POV, but, I guess that's what this blog is.

In any case, I'm big bad Christina beating up on poor little Beyotch (yeah....okay, I know...). A few years ago, yeah, I was big bad Christina, but I turned a leaf a while back and have made Pollyanna look like cell phone wielding super model. I pitch in with numerous teams, I bring in goodies and lend a sympathetic ear. But according to my boss, people don't want to see the nice side of me when they want, and expect, the bad.

According to the snivelling Beyotch (yeah...okay, I know) people on the floor say that I think I'm better than everyone else. Now I try to make my work the best so that I can advance in the workplace. If I do the norm, I'll stay the norm and not go above and beyond. So when I get my work done and offer support to others, well, I guess they're taking that the same way (usually I go desk to desk on my team or send out an email).

Other things happened with the thing sitting across from me (yeah...) and what people don't get is that she hurt my feelings as well. I just didn't go to my boss/co-worker about it, prefering to just wait until it gets settled on the play ground.

The atmosphere at work for me has been tense. I tried to work things out with her and she blew up at me. Frankly, I nearly quit because I can't stand the pressure. Part of me wants to just shut down and screw everyone else. The other part of me wants to go above and beyond and show them that no matter what, they can't get me down...though it did get me to eat waaaay more pasta than I should have on Thursday night and I've avoided blogging in favour of sitting at home moping on non-kickboxing nights (it helped with the stress).

My boss is an awesome guy, though. He gave me a pep talk on Friday and I do feel a bit better, but I am really dreading tomorrow. So very much. I really wish I could work alone. There are positions to do that, but they're so hard to get into. Maybe this will be my year?

Things will get better, I know they will. For now, I'm recommitting to blogging, avoiding the overeating of pasta and getting out into the open air during break times.

On a happier note...it is Sunday and that means it's Mannland's Getting to Know You!

1. What color do you wear the most?
Blue! Saddly, I have a skin reaction to some blue dyes, but I just feel my best wearing blue. I feel it compliments my skin tone and hair and it just makes me feel good :)


2. Would you rather have $10,000 dollars or a dream vacation?
The money. I could pay off some debt or re-do the flooring in our home. We take small vacations and as nice as time in England/Ireland/Scotland would be, I'm a sensible girl with that :D And I am going to Disney in May...that's a lifelong dream there!
3. Do you have a weird, quirky or unusual habit?
I break out into song a lot. It would be so nice to live in a musical sometimes!

4. I really need to start..........?
Getting projects started and completed that I want to do. The front porch needs to be cleared out, repainted and redone. And to get a head start on my card making. And get a pedicure before I head to Florida!
5. What was the first blog you ever read?
Oh...lord...uhm...I have absolutely no idea! When I first got back into blogging in weight loss terms, I started here New Every Morning
6. Do you collect anything?
Do calories count? ha ha. Honestly, I guess books by favourite authors and movies!

7. How old were you when you had your first kiss?
Somewhere in high school, I think...obviously it wasn't that memorable :P

8. Do you text/twitter while driving?
Never. I stop the car safely before answering the cell phone as well. It never leads to anything good!
 
Okay, here is to a great week. A new start and a better frame of mind. And hopefully long battery life in my MP3 player so I can block the work world out.

Getting to Know You Sunday

Where did this long weekend go? Back to the routine on Monday. But what a glorious weekend we had here in Eastern Canada. It was warm, sunny and just perfect. I lounged on the porch with the kitties and watched the world go by. Sure I should have been walking, but I was having a good time right where I was :P

Yay, Sunday also means Mannland's Questions. So much fun!

1. Showers or baths?

Considering that we only have a shower in the house, no baths here. Though I do love it when we're away and it's somewhere with a jet tub (which gets cleaned out beforehand, thank you...). Throw in some nice products from Lush into that bath and I'm as happy as a clam!


2. Do you have any crazy urges?

Singing, I guess would be my "crazy urge". Every now and then I just have to break out in song. Mostly at work because it's a fun stress reliever...though I don't know about the people who sit around me, ha ha. I'm a huge fan of the song "Don't Stop Believing" (hence the title of my blog) and this is before Glee, too. Steve Perry...oh where are you now....Anywho, that's the song I usually start out with. It's kind of like my theme song.

3. What is one thing we don't know about you?

Well, if I told you then that would kill the mystery....ha ha. Uhm...I cosplayed once with my then boyfriend at a convention in NC. It was an interesting experience, kind of like a really really long Halloween...which I really enjoy. I do love costumes, but just for fun.
4. Exercise..love it or hate it?

Depends on the exercise. I don't think I'd love a treadmill all the time, but it would be okay. I'd see it as a chore, though. Kickboxing on the other hand is something I eagerly look forward to every week. I wish it was 5 days instead of 3!

5. Do you think you have a good body image?

Not at all. But that's where getting myself in a good frame of mind is part of my goal list this year.
6. Flour or corn tortillas?

Uhm...Either, I guess. As long as the filling is good and I know what Points I have to put towards it, it'll go in my tummy :D
7. How do you celebrate Easter?

Usually with a dinner with the family. However this year the family bond has been tested to the extreme and we didn't get together. I visited my aunt this morning and saw my mother yesterday, but that was about it. At least one good thing...I didn't get a chocolate bunny!

8. Hard boiled Easter eggs or plastic eggs?
 
Hmmm....I've only ever been given foil wrapped chocolate ones....Yum!
 
So there it is in an Easter handbasket. I hope that everyone had a safe and happy weekend. More to come this week as I will be a better blogger :D

Helloooooo Spring!

Oh I've been a horrible blogger this week. I haven't read many, nor did I even think to post. It's been a pretty busy week, but very enjoyable, too.

Today the sun is out, the sky is blue and we're sitting at 21 degrees. Seriously odd for this area of Canada, let alone Easter Weekend which has been notoriously dirty for the past few years. But I'm not complaining. I'm out on my front porch curled up with the cats and watching the traffic go by.

I'm down a pound this week. I was really hoping for a bigger loss, but really, it's still amazing to lose a pound.

Now to avoid the easter chocolates and keep that pound off!  This year there is no family dinner planned for Easter, so I can save myself the calories from mounds of scalloped potatoes and ham and fixings. Instead, this evening we're having a nice steak supper. I've bought a ton of asparagus to grill up alongside it and a nice quiet evening in...which may include one tiny bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs...c'mon....I need a little something :P

There have been some things I've wanted to talk about on here about my weight loss, but I'm not sure yet just how to approach it. It's something that is making me self concious, but maybe the blogosphere will have an answer for me.

Well, the sun is moving, so I'm going to shift my body to soak up some much needed Vitamin D. Dr. Oz says we need it, so I'm getting my prescribed amount.

Hoppy Easter