One Week Anniversary!

When I weigh myself in the morning, it will be one full week of dieting. I am glad that I am doing this and I see this as a life-saving endeavor. Many thoughts have been crossing my mind. For one thing, I really hate to cook. When I started this and said that maybe, if anyone ever reads and would like to share recipes, I thought, who am I kidding. On a good day I don't like to cook. In the future, when my daughters talk about growing up and the topic of my cooking comes up, what they'll say is that I really knew how to warm up those frozen dinners. Or in the case of my youngest daughter, I really make some wonderful mashed potatoes!!!

I've always felt that cooking was invented by men to keep women in the kitchen, while they sat one their asses and watched sports on television. I've always resented what the males in my family were not forced to do. While, I, on the other hand, was made to do all of the house work growing up. Hence, I HATE TO COOK!!!!

But, I do plan to do more cooking than what I've been doing lately. I want to start cooking healthy meals for my 11 year old. She is thin, but her aunt on her dad's side of the family is morbidly obese. I've started talking to her what is a good diet. She is now in thinking about what she puts in her body. I told her that it is never good to give up food. That she does need to feed her body to be able to think and carry on throughout the school day. And, I feel that if I continue to lose weight and eat while I'm doing it, I am setting a good example for her.

Well, better go to bed. I am up very late tonight so that I can wash clothes for the week. (Again, a male plot to keep us busy.) :>)

Quote: "A size 6 is the new 14." from "The Devil Wears Prada"

Let's Go Red Sox!!!!

The Red Sox clinched the Eastern Division last night!!!! Talk about excitement. Now, to elect the President of Red Sox Nation.

Good News!!! I've lost a total of 8 pounds. I was sooooooo excited and it makes me more determined to stay with it. Now, I weight 194 lbs. I've lost the equivalency of a big newborn baby. (without the sleep deprivation!!!)

This is short and I'm going to end now.

Quote: "It seems like only yesterday that I started teaching." made by Me on Back to School Night to the parents.

Water and Teaching Don't Mix!!

Being a teacher is very rewarding. Actually, being a teacher is very hard. I'm always trying to figure out a new way to teach a topic. At times, I don't know why I save things on the computer, because more often than not, I always try something new each year. But, back to the topic. Teaching and water don't mix. Since I've started my journey, I have started drinking more water. It would be great if the following was true:
a. I had unlimited access to a bathroom.

b. I could leave the classroom whenever I needed to.

c. The bathroom was close to my classroom.

Unfortunately, none of the above is true. As a teacher, you have to wait for the 2 times a day you are student free. One time is usually lunch time, and the other time is your prep period. When you need to call a parent, copy papers, meet with other teachers, eat, etc., you can forget to use the bathroom. And, you usually remember when you hear the long chime of the bell. Well, since I've started my sojourn, I have taken every opportunity to run (with great speed) to the bathroom. And the women's faculty bathroom only has 2 stalls. God forbid if they are both occupied. In fact, I live for the bathroom these days. :>)

Good News!!!! As of Thursday morning, I had lost 4 pounds. I know I said that I wouldn't weigh myself everyday, but I felt that I had lost weight. Now, this adds to my determination to lose weight. I haven't cheated on this diet, but I am coming to the weekend. In the past, the weekend has been the deadliest time for me.

Gotta run. Will post tomorrow night. I will talk about dieting and every teachers worst nightmare of the year---------Back to School Night!!!!!

Quote: "How long does it take for light to travel one year? Answer: One Year." question asked by sixth grade student in science class.

As The Evening Turns

Well, day 2 went well. It was pretty eventful because we (my husband and I) closed on the refinancing of our home. This allowed us to pay off both of our cars. I feel that I lost lots of weight off of my shoulders alone. I am learning again to live with hunger. I haven't really felt this way in a long time. My one indulgence has been fruit. I love apples. In fact, when I was a kid, my mom used to limit us to 3 fruits a day. Because of this, I developed a deep longing for any types of fruits, especially apples. So, when the hunger starts, I grab an apple. But not all of the time. I also drink water.

Well, will go now. It's getting late, and my new plans are to be in bed at a reasonable hour.

Favorite Quote: "Cut the crap and kick the ball." from a 1st grade student at my first school.

Day Two: Also Known As The Day After!

Well, I did it!!! I got past one of my big hurdles........nighttime. I snack at night. There is nothing like a bag of chips and watching "Dancing With The Stars!" or any other reality fun show. Now let me define reality fun. Reality fun is any type of show that is not like "Survivor". It is hard for me to feel sorry for people who volunteer to starve, get eaten by bugs, and deal with backstabbers. I like to watch reality shows like "So You Think You Can Dance," and believe it or not, "America's Next Top Model." Now some of you are thinking, those girls on antm or the biggest B*#%@, however, how they behave with each other has no affect on the outcome of the competition. I just can't stand the lying that occurs on some shows for money. YUK!!!!!

But, back to my accomplishment. I made it through last night without snacking. It wasn't easy cause I did get hungry. But instead of giving into the cravings, I either drank water or ate an apple. (We went apple picking Sunday, and I have a 1/2 bushel of apples to consume.)
Then, to make sure that I didn't give into my yearning for food, I went to bed.

So, when I got up this morning, I weighed myself again. That is supposed to be a diet no-no. So, this is the last morning I weigh myself until next Monday. Well, anyway, I weighed myself and I had lost 1/2 pound. So, I started thinking about what that meant. Like I lost a half pound of fat....I lost an eight ounce glass of water......I lost .5 of a pound.....I WEIGH LESS THAN I DID YESTERDAY.......I DIDN'T GAIN WEIGHT!!!!

So, today begins another day. I didn't get a chance to go grocery shopping yesterday, however, I will have the following food until then:

Breakfast
1 Eggo waffle 90 calories

tea 0 calories

Snack
1 apple 80 calories

Lunch
Chicken Noodle Soup 200 calories
1 apple 80 calories
sugar free jello 15 calories

Snack
1 apple 80 calories


Dinner
Lean Cuisine 300 calories
salad
2 tbsp low fat dressing 50 calories

Snack
1 apple 80 calories
sugar free jello 15 calories

Well, there is my food diary for the day. I'll post later on tonight to get through the hunger and late night binging problem that I've developed over the years.


Favorite Quote: "I'm just one flu short of my goal weight." from The Devil Wears Prada

Day One: So It Begins

September 24, 2007

So, I woke up this morning with enthusiasm and a sense of dread. Enthusaistic because this was the day I would stop the madness and begin losing weight. Dread.......because I would have to get on a scale to begin my journey. So, I woke up, took care of the morning routine, and then stepped on the scale. I was not surprised by the number. I knew it would be high, and I was right. For the first time in my life, I weighed more than 200 lbs. In fact, my weight read 202 lbs. In the past, that would've set me on a wave of eating. And then, I only weighed 170. Now, seeing that number made me determined.

As always, when I start a diet, I forget to go grocery shopping. To me, grocery shopping is as interesting as watching grass grow. So, later on tonight, I will go to the grocery store to get the foods for my diet success.

Here's what I had today:

Breakfast:
1 Eggo waffle 90 calories

1 cup of coffee 0 calories

Lunch
2 tbsps of peanut butter 200 calories

one apple 80 calories

Snack
apple 80 calories


Dinner
Smart One Meal 220 calories

apple 80 calories

Snack
low-fat popcorn 240 calories

and WATER!!!!!!!!


So, that's what I did for day one. Funny thing about the water. I am a teacher, and drinking so much water is not fun. We can't use the restroom whenever we want. I had only one prep period today. Boy did I run to the ladies room. :>)

Why am I doing this?

Sept. 23, 2007

First of all, I want to start off by saying that I am not necessarily a fan of exposing my thoughts and feelings by writing. I love to do that by knitting, crocheting, sewing, and talking to my friends. But desperate times call for desparate measures. I am TIRED of being the weight I am. I've been carrying around an extra 60 - 70 pounds for the past 2 years. I've started and stopped many diets. This time, I want it to work. Therefore, I feel if I keep a diary of my weight loss, I'll stick to it. Hence, the name of my blog.....Losing It In Massachusetts. (I could've had more fun with this name if I lived in some other state. Losing it in California sounds much cooler.....but, alas, I live in The Bay State.)

What program will I lose to accomplish my goal? After much research and looking at the funds I have available, I decided that I am going to keep a food journal, and share with this site what is working, not working, and how I'm going to make changes.

I also realize the importance of exercise in this quest. So, I will also keep an exercise journal. Since I have inherited by knees from my father's side of the family, the exercise of choice will be walking. So, I'm going to charge up my ipod battery and get to walking.

If anyone finds this site and wants to be part of my support group fine. Join along this journey that I am embarking on. You're more than welcome. If you too want to lose weight and want to share information, recipes, etc. , let's share.