In the past 4 weeks, I have noticed many changes. My muscles are becoming more defined, my clothes are getting a lot more loose and I am able to look back 8 weeks ago and see some of the weight loss through pictures. After my first phase of 4 weeks, I was down 9.6 pounds and 25 inches. (I measured my body parts before we began and then 4 weeks later and just subtracted the totals) The results were not as drastic for the past 4 weeks; however, if I look at the whole 8 weeks combined, I am still proud of my results. In the past 4 weeks I was able to lose another 5.8 pounds and 6 more inches.
That brings me to a total of 15.4 pounds and 31 inches total loss in 8 weeks!!!
Before we began and after each 4 weeks, we take pictures of ourselves. After the first 4 weeks I felt like I could notice subtle changes, but nothing as drastic as Mike. I just took my 8 weeks pictures and feel like I barely noticed any changes from my 4 weeks pictures. But holy cow....when I look back at my before pictures and then my 8 weeks pictures, I am super, crazy excited. :) I am not comfortable enough to post any yet; however, my goal is to get to a point where I can. The last phase is 5 weeks long and I doubt I will feel like I am ready to post pictures, but I guess we will see.
I think what I feel the most proud of is that before we started, I had no idea what to expect. Honestly, I didn't think we would finish the program. I simply thought it would be too difficult. Now, don't get me wrong...it is the hardest thing I have ever done, but with the results I am getting, how could I stop? I had a number in my mind of what I thought a reasonable number on a scale would say at the end of 90 days. I am overjoyed to say that that number is only 5.6 pounds away!! :) Thanks to all my family, friends and coworkers that support me and do a great job of not enabling me to just give into every food temptation. I couldn't do this alone.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
taking a moment to smell the preteen spirit
Lately, I have been feeling very fortunate and blessed for the many great things going on in my life. The one in particular that I want to single out is my career. Anyone who knows me in a professional setting knows/knew that I always felt that my calling was to 1st graders. ("1st graders" also represent the idea of early education) This, however, is not how my professional career started. Let me take you back to the beginning:
One of the best interviews I have ever had was at a Charter School earlier last summer. I was interviewing for what I hoped would be a 1st grade position; my dream! What seems like 2-3 weeks went by and I never heard anything even though I knew others that had interviewed that had already received their, "No thank you" calls. With about 2 weeks left of summer before I had to return to the Instructional Assistant position in Warren Township, I see an opening at Raymond Park Intermediate Academy. I planned and prepped for the interview and while I didn't think I did as well as I had at the Charter School, I felt like I had done my best.
A few days later I received a call telling me that I did not get the job at RPIA but that I was their 2nd choice. Apparently, it had been a tough decision and the vote was split. The week before school started, a 6th grade teacher at Creston (former Moorhead Assistant Principal at the school I used to work for) was offered a Special Ed position in another building. Knowing that RPIA had just done interviews, Creston called to see if they could get a few names of potential people to interview and my name was given to them. The 6th grade teacher who was leaving also put a good word in for me since she had worked with me at Moorhead.
The 6th grade teacher informed them around 11 am on Friday about her new position and I received a phone call at 3. When I went in, I automatically felt so comfortable and at ease. For anyone who knows my principal and assistant principal, you know how freaking lucky we are to work for such awesome people. Anyway, by 3:30 I was at the interview and things were going great. At the end, he asked if I had any questions. I asked how many people he planned on interviewing and when I thought I might know if I got the job. He said they had set up a few times and would probably get back to me by Monday or Tuesday. Knowing that 1st year teachers would have 1st year teacher training on Wednesday or Thursday, I said to him, "Or, you could just not have any more interviews and just hire me." He looked at the assistant principal and they both agreed that it sounded like a good idea. So, long story not so short, by 5pm that day, I was hired to teach 6th grade. (what I said sounds awkward...which I know I can be...but I swear it was funny and they laughed about it in the interview)
This bring us to almost 7 months later and the realization that there is nowhere else I would rather be. Would I have loved 1st grade? Yes. Would I have been a good 1st grade teacher? Yes. Are there days that I don't think I am the best 6th grade teacher? Yes. Getting to know these kids and see them growing into young adults, working on such deeper intellectual levels, counseling them through such awkward stages in their lives and teaching them to live their lives in respectful and responsible ways is so much more than I could have ever expected. This age group is not easy and not everyone is meant to teacher it.
I can honestly say that I truly feel honored to have been given this great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone.
One of the best interviews I have ever had was at a Charter School earlier last summer. I was interviewing for what I hoped would be a 1st grade position; my dream! What seems like 2-3 weeks went by and I never heard anything even though I knew others that had interviewed that had already received their, "No thank you" calls. With about 2 weeks left of summer before I had to return to the Instructional Assistant position in Warren Township, I see an opening at Raymond Park Intermediate Academy. I planned and prepped for the interview and while I didn't think I did as well as I had at the Charter School, I felt like I had done my best.
A few days later I received a call telling me that I did not get the job at RPIA but that I was their 2nd choice. Apparently, it had been a tough decision and the vote was split. The week before school started, a 6th grade teacher at Creston (former Moorhead Assistant Principal at the school I used to work for) was offered a Special Ed position in another building. Knowing that RPIA had just done interviews, Creston called to see if they could get a few names of potential people to interview and my name was given to them. The 6th grade teacher who was leaving also put a good word in for me since she had worked with me at Moorhead.
The 6th grade teacher informed them around 11 am on Friday about her new position and I received a phone call at 3. When I went in, I automatically felt so comfortable and at ease. For anyone who knows my principal and assistant principal, you know how freaking lucky we are to work for such awesome people. Anyway, by 3:30 I was at the interview and things were going great. At the end, he asked if I had any questions. I asked how many people he planned on interviewing and when I thought I might know if I got the job. He said they had set up a few times and would probably get back to me by Monday or Tuesday. Knowing that 1st year teachers would have 1st year teacher training on Wednesday or Thursday, I said to him, "Or, you could just not have any more interviews and just hire me." He looked at the assistant principal and they both agreed that it sounded like a good idea. So, long story not so short, by 5pm that day, I was hired to teach 6th grade. (what I said sounds awkward...which I know I can be...but I swear it was funny and they laughed about it in the interview)
This bring us to almost 7 months later and the realization that there is nowhere else I would rather be. Would I have loved 1st grade? Yes. Would I have been a good 1st grade teacher? Yes. Are there days that I don't think I am the best 6th grade teacher? Yes. Getting to know these kids and see them growing into young adults, working on such deeper intellectual levels, counseling them through such awkward stages in their lives and teaching them to live their lives in respectful and responsible ways is so much more than I could have ever expected. This age group is not easy and not everyone is meant to teacher it.
I can honestly say that I truly feel honored to have been given this great opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone.
Friday, February 4, 2011
6 day weekend
The weather has just been crazy! 4 snow/ice days? What is funny is that on Tuesday I just wanted to relax and do nothing just in case we did have school on Wednesday. (also, I didnt want to leave the house with how bad the roads were) On Wednesday, I had the same mindset because I didn't think there was any way I would get a 3rd off! On Thursday I was really starting to get tired of doing "nothing" so I took a nap to kill time. lol. Pathetic, I know. So here we are Friday...another ice day. I knew there was no way I could take another day of watching t.v. and facebook stalking, so I met my sister-in-law and nephew for lunch at McAllisters. After leaving lunch, I decided to get my house more "baby ready".
Now....let me back up by saying that I am not pregnant and do not plan on being pregnant in the next few months; however, Mike bought a new bookshelf and I started trying to figure out the absoulte best place for it. In this search, I started thinking about how we would need to rearange the house if and when we do get pregnant. I know...I know....as my friends Kristen would tell me....I don't need to be SOO planned all of the time...I just can't help it. I am not going to be able to move stuff all over my house once I am pregnant, and being a woman, what if I don't like where I have moved it and want to move it somewhere else? I know Mike would be fine moving it, but why not help if I can? Anyway, I completely gutted the computer room and moved some peices that I would like in there for when it actually is our baby's room.
This obviously led to more questions like:
(disclaimer: yes...the room was trashed before...I don't mind showing it because....well, who cares what you think? :) It's clean now.)
Now....let me back up by saying that I am not pregnant and do not plan on being pregnant in the next few months; however, Mike bought a new bookshelf and I started trying to figure out the absoulte best place for it. In this search, I started thinking about how we would need to rearange the house if and when we do get pregnant. I know...I know....as my friends Kristen would tell me....I don't need to be SOO planned all of the time...I just can't help it. I am not going to be able to move stuff all over my house once I am pregnant, and being a woman, what if I don't like where I have moved it and want to move it somewhere else? I know Mike would be fine moving it, but why not help if I can? Anyway, I completely gutted the computer room and moved some peices that I would like in there for when it actually is our baby's room.
This obviously led to more questions like:
- where will the computer desk be moved to?
- how can I make the front bedroom a playroom if there is a huge t.v. (not as much a problem as..) a worn-in futon, probably our computer desk, our rockband equipment, and our christmas tree box?
- how am I supposed to go back to sharing the master closet with Michael when ours is sooo itsy bitsy?
- why is Michael such a packrat?
- what will we ever need with out Mike's Carwash "Associate of the Year" wooden plaques?
(disclaimer: yes...the room was trashed before...I don't mind showing it because....well, who cares what you think? :) It's clean now.)
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| the lovely bookshelf that got this hysteria started |
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| before |
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| after |
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