20 down, a lot more to go!

I finally hit the 20 pound loss mark.  It's taken, like forever this time around.  Although, since it's taking a lot longer, maybe this time, it will become second nature, and I won't start heading back up after a few more pounds lost.

We leave for Florida in 2 days.  I really can't wait.  The weather has turned cold, as in, more like real winter weather, so I'm not going to miss the cold.  We are just about packed.  We have snacks and food for the train.  Things are looking good!

One week away from Florida!!

Hubby and I decided to go to Florida to visit with my parents.  Mom will turn 80 this year, and we hadn't been down to see them for a while.  So, we started making plans.  Since we wanted to go over President's Day weekend (minimum number of lost work days for me), it was a lot cheaper to take the train down.  Yes, it takes 24 hours to get from our train station to Deland, but it's the same amount of time as driving, and we can sleep or do whatever for the trip down and back.

In other "news", I have been exercising more often, and all parts of me have been sore.  Various muscles that haven't been "used" recently.  And today, I just walked on the treadmill for 45 minutes (yeah, I went to the gym, I met a friend there, and we talked the whole time!)  and there are parts that are sore from that!  Oh man, I will be happy when things don't hurt everytime they are moved!

Ground Hog Day

It's Ground Hog Day, and I think, but I'm not sure that Phil (the groundhog) saw his shadow.  Oh well, if it's another 6 weeks of winter like we've been having, I won't complain.  We got the tickets yesterday for our trip to Florida, so we'll be taking the train down in a couple weeks.  We'll be spending 4 days with my parents, and that's enough for me.

Since it's been so nice, I've been walking around the block and not going to the gym.  I'm still getting exercise, and also get the chance to get out and enjoy the 60 degree weather yesterday.  Yep, the first day of February was 60 degrees here.  I'm loving this winter.  I changed my tickets for the local community theater from the Saturday we'll be gone to this Saturday.  I have a call into my hairdresser for a cut (and more) before leaving as well.  Now to figure out if my bathing suit still fits me.  I hate to try on bathing suits, and I'm hoping that one of my older "models" will fit at least for this trip, so I don't have to go out and try to find one that does.

So, I'm in a pretty good mood today.  I've even looked up where to find a WW meeting when we get to Mom's.  It's so much easier doing this with hubby on board!

Weight loss update

Okay, here goes.  I need to update my "journey".  I went to WW last night, and weighed in, as per normal and I was down 1.4 lb.  So, the total so far is -19.4.  Yeah, I'm 0.6 lb away from -20 lbs.  So, why does that make me crazy?  I don't know, but to hit that 20 lb mark has alluded me for a while.  Granted, my 10% is -25 lb, and that is really alluding me.  But I feel that if I can make it to the 20 lb mark, I can get to the 10%.  So, in case you are counting, I weighed in at 230.6 last night.  It's been incredibly slow this time, but hopefully that means that I'm actually changing my eating habits and I will continue to use them even after I reach my goal weight.

And it really helps that hubby is on this journey with me!

I guess rain is better than snow. . .

It's Friday, and it's raining.  It's been raining for several hours, and will continue to do so for several more, if the weather people are correct.  And since it's January, rain is definitely better than snow, at least for me.

Anyhow, I've gone to the gym for the last 2 days.  Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, and then went and used the weight machines on the "30 minute express" circuit. Today, my arms feel like they are going to fall off.  I knew it had been a long time since I've done any weight working out, but I didn't expect this.  So, I guess I'm going to have to do the weight machines more often.  Like every other day, more often.  Today, I just walked on the treadmill for 45 minutes.  Now, I'm a little sore, but I mostly feel good.  I really have to get back into the habit of cardio and then cardio/weights every other day.  I'm sure that more exercise will enhance my weight loss efforts and help me to keep up with hubby's weight loss.

I'm meeting a friend for lunch.  I haven't really seen her for several years.  I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to order (one of the nice things about the internet, restaurants put their menus online, this one didn't have nutritional information, but at least I know what's in it!)  And then weigh in is tonight.  It's been a long week, and I am looking forward to the weekend!

Exercise

So, I figured out that taking 9500 steps during the day earns me 5 points.  Really?  Just walking for (almost) the recommended number of steps earns 5 points?  Okay, so I can also take a 25 minute walk with moderate exertion will earn 3 points, so I guess that makes sense.

Why did I figure out how many points 9500 steps were?  I went shopping yesterday instead of going to the gym.  I wore my pedometer both at school (running around during regents week is par for the course) and then shopping.  Between the 2, I logged in about 9500 steps.  And since WW has an activity converter for steps with an "all day" setting, that's what I used.  5 activity points!  Today, I went for a walk, since it's still pretty nice out, and that's why I know that a 25 minute walk earns 3 points.  So, I've earned half of the "recommended" exercise points in just 2 days.  I'm going to have to log in those daily steps more often.

Doing well tracking, it's hubby's fault.  So, it's slow, but steady in the right direction.  He's doing much better than me, but then, he's male (duh) and he's never done a weight reduction program, so his metabolism isn't as screwed up as mine.  Oh yeah, he's also not a post menopausal woman, which I'm told also hinders quick weight loss.

Tomorrow, I'm not working, so I'll go to the gym in the morning.  I'll get back into this exercise thing, eventually.

End of first semester

I am a substitute teacher, and this year has been one of the toughest yet.  A few kids (although, it seems to be more than last year) are completely disrespectful and downright nasty.  So, while a few things about the end of the first semester are melancholy, I'm glad that this year is about half over.  In our state, we have what they call regents exams.  Not having grown up here, I never had to take these tests as a kid.  And with the passing of no child left behind, a lot of these tests have been dumbed down, so an overwhelming number of kids can pass them, provided they put in the effort needed to study and learn the material.  That being said, these tests are torture, both for the kids and for the teachers.  They are 3 hours long, and our district times them such that the kids have to sit for the entire 3 hours.  The state has a "last entry" time, and since we start about 3 hours before then, we get to sit for the 3 hours.  In my several years of proctoring these exams, I think I've seen about a dozen kids use the entire time.  Most are done with at least a half hour to spare.  It doesn't seem like long, but when you have to sit there, no other reading materials, no phones or iPods, it's torture.  Although, I've seen some interesting art work on the back of test booklets -- what else is there to do.

So, today marks the first day of January regents.  The tests are offered in January, mainly for those who failed them before, and the kids have to pass 5 of them to graduate.

OTOH my daughters thought that the regents were too easy.  And they were among those done in an hour, and then had to sit there for 2 hours doing pretty much nothing.  #2 would usually draw something on the booklet or scratch paper.  I'm not sure what #1 did, since it's been a while since she's taken a regents exam.

Time to make my lunch and see which test I get to proctor.  At least there are limited numbers of kids in the building, and while I generally have to run from point A to point B, it's an easy week.

Toodles