in a better mood

ok. i got my morning whining in. thanks everyone for listening. I went and took a nap for a while, and now i'm feeling more positive, if a little tired. i do like the work i do. i just wish i could have a regular schedule. maybe that will come with time.

Wednesday

I think i have been doing pretty well on my diet, though i have lost little, if any weight thus far. Big Guns and I have been better about getting to the gym in the mornings though, so that should help us out some. (3 days so far this week) Actually Big guns has been better about getting up in the morning. I've been sleeping right through the alarm. I haven't been hearing it at all. Before i would hear it, but ignore it. Big Guns says i was even snoring last night!!
I've been in a bad mood this week about my job. I need to get myself out of the negative mood i'm in. I think it is related to hormones, or at least that's why i'm letting things bother me so much. I'm frustrated with my job. When I took it, I agreed to work occasional sundays, like once every 2-3 weeks in the evenings. now i'm working every sunday, all day. I also agreed to work until 6-7 at night. I'm now working until 8 pm most nights, which means i don't get home until close to nine. i"m working 6 days a week, and i never get to see anyone. I'm so frustrated that I haven't been able to find my groove yet down here employment wise.

my diet from yesterday:
all bran cereal
2 cups of coffee


lunch:
small salad
whole wheat wrap w/ peanut butter

snack
string cheese

dinner:
cauliflower
salmon

snack
sugar free fudgsicle
lowfat chocolate ice cream!!!

morning!

Well, here we are at Monday morning again. Yesterday I had to work. I really don't like working on Sundays. I miss going to church, I miss being able to visit with family and friends, and I miss having the extra day with big guns. I understand that they really need someone to work on Sundays, and I'm willing to do it for now, but I hope it can change soon. Why can't i find a job with a regular schedule?
Today I'm working at the outpatient program. I'm not sure that anyone has signed up for it or not. I spent last week just doing out reach. I'll let you all know how it goes.
As for my diet, I'm much more motivated now. ON Saturday Big GUns and I were browsing on line for honeymoons. I think we've pretty much decided that we're going to go to one of the Sandals resorts. I'm really excited about it. We might even get a room with a private or semi-private pool. That's waay cool! Plus all of our food, drinks, and activities are included. Now we just have to decide which one we want to go to. I'm going to take a look at them again probably later today, and tomorrow, and the next day...ooh! it's soo fun to daydream about. I can't wait. There's so much to look forward to this year: getting married, going on a honeymoon, looking for a house...woohoo! But anyway, I'm super motivated now because at Sandals its pretty much a bathing suit vacation. I don't want to be feeling all self-concious while we're there. This morning we did good. We got up at 5:30 and went to the gym to jog. I'll let you know how my diet is going later today. Sad news though. Big Guns realized this weekend that the fudgsicles have 40 calories in them. I thought they had 20, so I had figured I could eat 3 or 4 of them without worry to much. It looks like I'm going to have to cut back to two a day !

it's friday! woohoo!

I'm tired and cold today. They say it's only 1 degree outside and that it feels like 10 below zero. I'm not looking forward to leaving the apartment. It would be nice if I had the kind of job big guns does so i could work from home. i should get out of work early today because i worked late on tuesday. they're very careful about making sure we don't go over on hours. that will be nice. i should be out by 5:30 or so instead of 7. i've done pretty good on dieting this week, though i probably could have been stricter. I've also exercised most days this week, but i do need to step that up a notch in intensity. I don't think i'm losing any weight. grr! I've probably eaten more carbs than I should have. Big guns has been in charge of the alarm clock, but he has a habit of falling back to sleep after it goes off, which means that we miss the gym in the morning. Next week I'm going to try to be in charge of the clock to see if we are any better about it. this morning was just too cold for us to dig out and go.

here's my diet from yesterday:
breakfast:
oatmeal
2 cups of coffee
1 sugar free fudgsicle

lunch:
half a sandwich from panera
a bowl of cheerios

snack
a few bites of a whole wheat wrap w/ Peanut butter
1 sugar free frudgsicle

dinner:
(splurge)
2 helpings of shrimp over pasta

snack
1 sugar free fudgsicle

Wednesday

Yesterday i did pretty good with my diet.
Breakfast:
1 blueberry smoothee
1 piece of whole wheat toast with cheese on top
1 sugar free fudgsicle (i love 'em)

lunch:
salad
whole wheat wrap with peanut butter

dinner:
a little steak
cauliflower

snack:
hot chocolate
1 sugar free fudgiscle

midnight snack when i woke up b/c i was hungry:
1 piece of whole wheat toast with cheese

second midnight snack because I was STILL hungry:
1 bowl of cheerios

Yesterday we started the morning off at the gym to do a little weight lifting. Yesterday was a crazy, crazy day at work. I swear, my typical client is a cross section between a convicted felon and a three year old. I spend most of my day trying to enforce rules and discipline while listening to temper tantrums. It's really fun! Yesterday one of my clients got mad when I made him turn the tv off, so he went and locked himself in the bathroom for an hour. As we all know, that is the most logical thing to do when you don't get your way. Let's just say I have my work cut out for me:) I got home late last night because I had to put out some fires (not literally this time) at the program. When I walked in Big Guns had a dinner ready and waiting for me, and then he sat up with me until almost 11pm while I tried to unwind and listened to me rant and rave. He's the sweetest. Tonight is another late night for me, but it should be tamer. I'll be at the outpatient program, doing some researching, networking, and observing. I wish I'd be home earlier so I could snuggle in with Big Guns, but I guess I can't have everything.

Week #2

Over the weekend Big Guns and I decided that we'd had enough of the no carbs part of the south beach diet, so for this week, we're still trying to be healthy, but we are having some carbs. Here's how I did today:

Breakfast:
Cheerios
2 cups of coffee
1 sugar free fudgsicle

Lunch:
salad
whole wheat wrap with Peanut Butter on it

Dinner:
soy sauce-ginger-sesame cod
mixed veggies

snack
2 sugar free fudgsicles


Big guns and I stayed up late last night watching the Patriots play-off game. Unfortunately they lost:( and my favorite player had a stinky game to boot. Anyhow, we were too tired this morning to go to the gym. Big guns went this evening while I was at work. Our plan is to go tomorrow morning. Today I started working full time. The only problem is that they don't have any kids signed up for the new program I'm working at. For this week, I'm trying to drum up some business by sending out fliers....we'll see what happens with all that...honestly i'm glad to have some down time in the beginning so i can figure out what it is i'm supposed to be doing..wish me luck:)....oh..tomorrow maybe i'll blog some more about wedding stuff....

Thursday's report

Yesterday Big Guns and I just couldn't push ourselves out of bed in the morning in time to hit the gym. He's still fighting off a cold, and I'm still getting rid of the remnants of mine.
What did we eat for breakfast? oh yeah. He had egg whites and cheese.

My breakfast:
cottage cheese mixed w/ a bit of yogurt
2 cups of coffee

lunch:
1 slice of pizza (again, I cheated, but it was free at the orientation, so I couldn't resist)

Honestly, i am feeling in better shape already, so i would have preferred to continue being healthy by having a salad or something for lunch...but I didn't have time in the morning to prepare it....

snack:
string cheese
handful of peanuts
cottage cheese

dinner:
shrimp on top of salad (delicious!)

snack:
3 sugar free fudgsicles
lemon flavored ricotta w/ equal
glass of wine

...a rough wednesday...

Yesterday was TOUGH diet wise. Overall I was successful, but it took a lot of will power and reinforcement from big guns:). I had orientation at the agency yesterday, and I had a seat right next to a pile of brownies. They smelled soooo good. All morning/afternoon, I was innundated with the smell of chocolate. They also had dunkin donuts....ooooh! the temptation!! I love donuts, and frosting, and sprinkles! Naturally, when I came home last night, I wanted to eat eveything in sight! and I really wanted to be off my diet. Let me give you the report of how I did though:

Breakfast:
2 eggs
4 pieces of turkey bacon
2 cups of coffee

snack
string cheese

lunch
tuna fish in a whole wheat wrap

snack
ricotta cheese sweetened with equal and flavored with almond extract
couple pieces of cheese

dinner
turkeyburger patty
mixed veggies

snacks
my sugar free jello concoction
a couple of hot balls (i admit, I cheated, but considering what I was up against with the brownies, I think i fared pretty darn well)
a glass of red wine

yesterday morning we went to the gym and I walked/ran for 30 minutes. Last night I dreamed about shrimp. I kept salivating over it in my head. Tonight we're going to have some for dinner. It won't be fried though, and it won't be in any kind of nice sauces, so we'll see how it goes. I'm skeptical of it's ability to live up to the shrimp in my dreams, but I'm really hungry tonight, so who knows, maybe it will....

Yesterday

Yesterday I did pretty good on my diet. I'm feeling healthier already:)

I'm still shocked by what I ate for breakfast:
2 poached eggs w/ a side of sauteed spinach!!!
(that'll put hair on your chest:) )
2 cups of coffee

Snack
1 sugar free popsicle
1 handful of peanuts

Lunch
1 cheese stick
1 handful of peanuts
A few bites of salad (things were crazy at work yesterday, so I ran out of time to eat)

Dinner:
pistachio-crusted chicken
mixed veggies

snack:
1 sugar free popsicle
a double helping of ricotta cheese sweetened with equal and flavored w/ almond extract


Yesterday morning we got up at 5:15 and went to the gym. Yesterday was a weights day, so it wasn't too bad. I wish I was like Lisa and mom and could lose 7 lbs in a week! Sue, when are you starting your blog?

Diet report

Here's my daily report:

breakfast:
eggwhite omelet w/ red peppers, scallions, and cheese
2 cups of coffee

snack:
string cheese

lunch:
2 servings of salad with tuna on top

snack:
2 handfuls of peanuts

Dinner:
steak
salad
broiled tomato

Snack:
ricotta cheese sweetened with equal and flavored with lemon zest (sounds fancy, eh?)

other snacks during the day:
4 sugar free popsicles

Cravings :
ice cream
chocolate bar
potato chips
coconut white chocolate bar
hot chocolate
candy
pizza

Cravings I indulged:

Zero :)

not too bad today, considering it was a day off

Big guns and I also made it to the gym in the afternoon. My headache had subsided, and he was feeling a little better. We took it easy though and walked for 30 minutes. Tomorrow we're up at 5:15 to go to the gym. Go us! Wish us luck:)

morning

I have a headache this morning. it stinks because big guns is home today too, but he is sick, and I have a headache, so we can't really enjoy our time. I didn't sleep well last night at all. I was too wound up from work. Hopefully tonight will be better. I need to implement a relaxation routine for when I get home at night, so i switch gears and can forget about work. This morning I'm working on the curriculum for the outpatient program. I have a meeting tomorrow, and they were hoping I'd come with some ideas. I'll post more later on how my diet/exercise went today. I'm going to try to get to the gym and atleast do some walking, or if i stay in, do my step bench.

My Diet:)

So here's my report for my first day of my diet:

breakfast:
2 eggs
4 pieces of turkey bacon
2 cupsof coffee

lunch:
handful of peanuts
string cheese
turkey on a whole wheat wrap

dinner:
salad w/ salad dressing and feta cheese
cauliflower
salmon

evening snack:
ricotta cheese sweetened with equal and flavored w/ almond extract

Not too bad, eh? tomorrow I'll start up again with the workouts. Today was crazy at work...I swear some people should not be parents. I just want to shake them. that's all for tonight..i gotta get back to the patriots game!

Wedding Dress!

Yesterday I met Julia, Sue, and my mom to do some more dress shopping. We found the perfect dress for Julia! She looks gorgeous in it:) and it matches the style of the other bridesmaid dresses. My friend Eli came along too and picked up her dress. Now for the older girls, we're focusing on shoes and accessories. This is actually turning into a bit of debate. Now I understand why bridesmaids are always a little disappointed with their outfits. It's impossible to please everyone in the wedding party.
Yesterday, I also had a final fitting for my dress. Everything was fine, the only problem is now I can't wear it until July:( Bummer! I love my dress! It's too bad I'll only be able to wear it once! It is probably a good thing that the wedding isn't until July though. The dress was noticeably snug this time around. I guess I put on a few holiday pounds!! It took both Sue and my mom tugging to get me into it! Sue got quite a kick out of it:)
After the dress fiasco, the four of us went out to lunch for a last meal. I had popcorn shrimp and french fries. As of today, I am on the South Beach Diet again. That means this morning I need to have eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast. For the first two weeks it's no cereal, no breads, no dairy (except for some lowfat cheese). I'll keep you posted on my progress. I have to get ready for work now, but I'll write tonight to let you know how I made out with the rest of my day!

morning!

Today I'm feeling tired and chubby:) I have a cold I've been fighting off for what seems like forever now. grrr! I have so much to do, but if given the choice, I'd just want to sit on the couch today and watch tv or read a book. Oh well...i have tomorrow and the next day off, so hopefully I can rest up and kick this bug then. I also need to take alfie to get his nails clipped. He hates that, but they get so long we can't stand to have him on our laps.
As for the chubbiness problem, Big Guns and I have decided to go back on the South Beach Diet starting on sunday. We both are feeling like we put on some holiday pounds, despite our best intentions. So, Lisa and Sue, you guys won't be alone in your efforts to get in shape:) Next week I'm going to get serious about my work outs again too. By July we should be the hottest group of people in Maine:)
ok..gotta finish getting ready for work:)

Woohoo!

Well, I have started my new job. It's definitely different from anything I've done before. I'm trying to therapize a bunch of teenaged boys who don't think they need help. Needless to say they're a rowdy, inattentive crowd. My feeling is, if I can conquer them, I can do any job the future holds. They're good kids, and I definitely have a soft spot for them. I think they like to try to take advantage of that. The other night while they were under my supervision a food fight broke out. There was pork hanging from the ceiling. I made them clean it all up. I was surprised when they actually listened to me. I couldn't think of a consequence they should have for it after they were done cleaning, so i had to call in reinforcements. I'm not good at being the mean/strict guy. It's a skill I had better get working on though. I had today off, but I'm in tomorrow, so we'll see what the fall out was and what I should make them do next time.
This afternoon I had an interview at the same agency for another position, that, when combined with my current job, would put me up to full time. The good (AWESOME!) news is that I got the job. woohoo!!! I'm now at 40 hours a week, or will be by the end of january and will have benefits along with all of the other luxuries of being a full time employee. The worse but still AWESOME news is that I will be in charge of developing an outpatient group program for teenaged drug users. It's an amazing opportunity for me, so I'm really excited about it, but it is also a little scary/intimidating since most of my exprience to date has been working with kids and families on parenting type issues. I know next to nothing about drugs. I'll be spending a lot of time reading up on the subject ove the next weeks and months. If anyone has any good resources let me know:) Change is good! So is a good challenge. I'm up for it. I do well when I'm under this kind of pressure, so i'm not too worried about how it will turn out, just a little nervous. Keep praying for me:) Big guns is here, so I have to finish blogging now and go smooch. I'll keep you guys updated