"Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration."

Today is a good day. I am home after spending an entire weekend running a retreat for my freshmen and sophomores. I was able to relax with a glass of wine last night (first since I started the weight loss) and falling asleep on the sofa. Really, that's what EVERY Sunday should be! I am feeling that this week will be a great one, which is what I need after the atrocity of last week. On top of a hectic schedule last week, I was hit with some ridiculous drama from a person who I mistook as a person who cared for me. I hate being involved in drama because I just feel like I am back in High School. But, the difference now is I have learned to stand up for myself instead of just folding back and apologizing. Through it all, there was no comfort food to be had! No unnecessary snacking which never makes me feel better. No heaping helpings of potato chips. Just me, my healthy eating, and my tough schedule at the gym.



I was smart enough to bring some food to the retreat to supplement the meals they offer there. It worked well. I came home to put on sweatpants and really wanting to fit into a pair that I know haven't fit me but I was hoping.... I put them on and...what was this? They seemed almost...dare I say it...loose? Yes, that's right. They fit and then some! :) I know this sounds extreme to some of you but I was able to look at myself in the mirror and smile...because I was happy with what I saw. I was proud of what I have accomplished so far. It wasn't about noticing what didn't look good enough yet...I saw what looks better. For any of you who have struggled with your weight, you probably know what I mean. Maybe those of you who haven't had weight problems know, too. I felt good. I can look in the mirror and see that the hard work I have done is clearly working. That makes me happy. :)



It was then I realized, I had not weighed myself in a week. So I stepped on the scale. I am down 10.4 lbs!!!! And the donations are still going up. Thank you all for your support. It means everything to me. I am determined to continue all of these ways if it means I don't need a whole new wardrobe from last year!

xoxo Happy Monday!

“Criticism fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things."

Do me a favor...before you continue reading....make the song louder.

Ok, that's better. Last night when I was working at the hotel, someone asked me if I was pregnant.
"You gonna have a lil one?", she asked.
"Excuse me?", I shockingly replied.
"You pregnant? Cuz you look it."

Wow, thank you. I cannot tell you the hurt that brings to a person who struggles with self esteem especially when asked the one week of the month it is hardest to feel good! I did the best I can to deal with it. And, to be honest, I thought I did quite well. Boyfriend's encouragement and comforting words did help but I don't think I can speak this story out loud. I am trying to use this as motivation.

Well...I needed that extra push to motivate me, right? That's what I wrote about just yesterday. I guess be careful what you ask for!

So, let's focus on the positive. Sunday marks the beginning of the 3rd week for me. I can feel a difference but I don't know how the numbers are reflecting that. And in this case, the number is important! I am positive of these numbers though...
$ Per Pound = 125.58
Flat Rate Donations = $475

This is a great deal of money and this is even a little inaccurate. I have a few names down without the exact amount they are donating. Actually, about 10 people to be more accurate. I am still accepting donations so if want to donate or if you can pass this on to more people you know...please help! I think my school is going to collect mission money for us one week. I will also be able to use that as donation money.

In closing, please don't ask anyone if they are pregnant unless you already know they are! Just another thing guys don't have to deal with!!!

xoxo

The three great essentials to achieving anything worthwhile are; first, hard work, second, stick-to-it-iveness, and third, common sense.-Thomas Edison

I wonder...did Thomas Edison really say "stick-to-it-iveness? haha. Well, I suppose it does not matter. I think this phrase should be the WW catch phrase. I am kinda stuck in the middle of all of this and the second part if what is my challenge right now.

Hard Work. Yeah, I am all over that. It is not easy to take the extra ten minutes to prepare lunch for the next day at 11:20pm when you get home from work. It also is not easy to get your butt to the gym after a long day at school and meetings afterward just so that your boyfriend's roommate can cause you great physical pain as he continually promises it will only last for the first week or so. It is not easy to resist the temptation of stoppping at Arby's on the way home to pick up mozzarella sticks when you are sooo hungry! None of this is easy I suppose. Then again, I guess it really isn't supposed to be. Easy would mean everyone does it, right? My life is full of being easy. But I am realizing all the little conveniences that have made things "so much easier" have made me so much lazier! Why do I feel it is such a task to put on sneakers and walk around? Why would I think putting a frozen smart ones into a lunch bag is the biggest effort in the world? Simple. I am not used to ANY work, nevermind hard work. Which brings me to

Common Sense. It seems obvious to me and something we all know what we should and should not be eating. But, I am constantly surrounded by food that is not the right choice. The common sense part would just say...bring food you know you should be eating. Yes, this makes sense. Then... I will not even notice Arby's on the way home! If you want something, you have to work for it. I want to give back to Camp. I am willing to work.

Stick-to-it-iveness I love that this word is totally made up and I 100% identify with it. This week has been a tough one for me. I am feeling very overwhelmed with my busy schedule and feeling frustrated with the going nowhere part of this losing weight. I am successful, I know that. But right now, I feel like I am stuck. Everyone hits this part at some point...but it came at a point when I am tired and busy. Makes the hard work tempting to be pushed out the window. I keep doing what I am supposed to be doing but I am not feeling like it is doing anything. That blah point. I guess this is the truth of success. Trust you are making a difference. Believe that at some point, change will happen. Have Faith, right? I am trying and I am pushing. The best part is that SO MANY people know I am doing this so I constantly get yelled at if I do something wrong. haha. I love it and I hate it.

On a brighter note, I am going to get away from here next week. Heading up to Syracuse to visit the fam jam. I can't wait to just be away, with people I love (and Rick haha), relaxing, and simply enjoying company. So, Dawn....no baking!!!

xoxo

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Happy weekend, everyone!!
I am in a great mood today and feeling so full of energy with all of this beautiful weather! I hope you are all feeling the same. I found this WW recipe which is just delicious... I thought I would share it with all of you. (I tend to change all the measurements.)

Oven Fried Baked Chicken
1/2 tsp all purpose flour
1/4 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
3 oz. light buttermilk
3/4 cup corn flakes crumbs
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (four 4 oz. pieces)

Preheat over to 365 degrees. Lightly coat an 8x8x2 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
Comibe flour, selt and cayenne pepper together in a med. size bowl. Place buttermilk and corn flakes in 2 separate shallow bowls.
Roll chicken breast halves in flour mixture and evenlt coat each side. Next dip chicken into buttermilk and then corn flakes crumbs.
Place coated chicken breasts in prepared baking dish. Bake until chicken is tender and no longer pink, about 20 minutes (there is no need to flip the chicken during baking).


I have another little snack idea, too. Boyfriend and I had a friend over last night for a good bbq dinner. So good...but I needed a snack thing to go with the burgers. I opted for salsa and a few pita chips. Dawn...this will be a great solution to your not so healthy tostitos to go with the healthy mango salsa. Cut a piece of pita bread into 8 wedges. Separate the halves. Spray each piece with olive oil, just enough to coat it. Bake it in the oven on 400 for 12 minutes. Careful they don't burn. They are good and crispy!

Ok, this is apparently a recipe share blog. haha Enjoy the weekend everyone! Let me know what you think of the food!!! :)

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Every day I have cafeteria duty to maintain order among the animals while they eat. I am pretty resistant to buying cafeteria food. It is sooo expensive and it is so not worth the money most of the time. Except, there is this one thing. It's just that, they have what I love the most. My only weakness is....mozzarella sticks. Ooooooh they are so yummy! The goodness of the deep fried breading on the outside with the cheesiness warmth of mozzarella on the inside!! mmmmm....I looooove them! I am not a person that is into sweets or desserts. I strongly believe in getting extra appetizers if you feel the meal will not be complete alone. And usually, mozzarella sticks are what I choose.

The mozz. sticks are usually $2.00 for 5 of them. I was really enjoying the look and the smell of them today. I haven't had them in what seems forever (what is really 9 days!). God bless the lunch ladies. They know my weakness and my love for mozz. sticks. Unfortunately, they do not know about the Camp Fatima fat off. I was offered two...."no? Just one.....no? You sure?" Closer....mmm smells sooo good! I guess this how Eve felt with that troublesome apple!

THE CHILDREN! YOU ARE DOING IT FOR THE CHILDREN!!! aaah yes, clarity. I resist. Emphatically and whole-heartedly! "No, thank you." It's funny. I didn't miss the mozza sticks. I don't even want them now even after writing this. Oh, the great things I am capable of....just say no (to mozza)!

NUMBER UPDATES:
Flat Rate Donation: $395
$ Per Pound: $117.33
Days Remaining: 52
Weight Lost: 6.9 lbs!!!

"For every person who doubts you, tell you that you will fail, try twice as hard to prove them wrong."

I chose this quote for one reason...I had to prove MYSELF wrong. I almost gave in this weekend to the frustration and temptation of being surrounded by junk food. Last night at 11:30, seven people were eating pizza in my hotel room. I am trying really hard not to eat past 7:30 each night, but boy did that food smell good! I ate a healthy oatmeal cookie that I brought with me instead. And to be honest, that was ALL I needed.

I spent the past 50+ hours away with little food to identify as what I should be eating. I made good choices in tough situations and worked out a little bit harder to make up for the inevitably bad choices. I came home, had a snack, and weighed myself. Since last Sunday, I am 5.4 lbs lighter and proud of what I accomplished!

This week I am dedicating myself to getting to that gym as many days as possible! My next big challenge? Brett and Todd's birthday party. :)

Conscience whispers, but interest screams aloud. ~J. Petit-Senn

Here I am...sitting in my cozy room at the Trenton Marriot. Ahh, yes. The vacation spot for any sane mind. A getaway in the heart of Trenton. Surrounded by 200+ teenagers who aspire to be the future political leaders of our country. At this point, you may be asking yourself, "Why?", "Huh?" or possibly even, "What is wrong with her?!?!" I can answer the last one...but that would be a book rather than a blog. I am chaperoning a trip with my students for the annual Youth & Government Conference.

I am sincerely inspired by their motivation to change our country for the better, the commitment they have given to researching and creating the bills to be passed by Senate, and the fact that they choose to take trips like this (at a high cost I might add) in order to grow as a student. However, I am completely displeased with the choices of "inspirational" speakers (solely democratic). If you know me at all, please know I am not the kind of person to argue or debate politics. Mostly because I feel like any argument I hear is completely one sided. So am I anti-democrat? I am not saying that. I am simply saying...why are only democrats speaking at this conference? Most of our students are republican based and they were not happy about the choice of speaker for this evening.

Anywho, like my quote? Here is a story. I woke up this morning and made a great breakfast (GoLean blueberry waffles...love em!). I felt motivated to stay on track with good eating even though I would be away this weekend. I arrived here at 9am and was told we would have "brunch" from 10-11:30. Brunch consisted of lunch meats, hoagie rolls, desserts and VERY sweet iced tea. Oh good lawd, this is going to be hard! I opted not to eat anything since I didn't feel hungry. I had enough sense to bring snack foods for situations like this. At some point this afternoon, I ate a breakfast bar. Dinner arrived and I was met with pasta & meat sauce, salad, and chicken fingers. haha. I did the best I could. Actually, I was proud of myself. I know I ate in moderation (considering it was chicken fingers!! hello!!!!) Pro to this weekend? A free fitness center :)

So, as of now. I am sleepy and plan on waking for the gym early in the morning. My totals for fundraising? So glad you asked :)
Flat Rate Donation= $350
Every Pound I lose= $107.33
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rule your mind or it will rule you.

I have decided to begin this blog as a means of getting through my own mind. I want to be able to recognize the gifts that are given to me daily and I think writing them out is an easy way to do that. In addition, I am using this as a reminder to stay committed to my pesonal goals on improving myself.

For anyone who may not know, I began this week in the Camp Fatima Fat-Off. I have pledged to try and lose 20lbs in the next two months. During this time, people are sponsoring per pound I lose and some of sponsoring me a flat rate, no matter what I lose!! I am overwhelmed by the support I have been given. Let me explain...

A couple years ago, I lost a good amount of weight and I was 4 lbs away from the goal I had in my mind since I was 17 yrs old. I was proud and comfortable in my own skin. Oh, to be back to that... Unfortunately, I stopped paying attention and I convinced myself that I would be able to keep it off with no work. Clearly, that failed. I put on all of the weight I lost and I am back to where I was in college (aka not healthy!). I thought maybe the motivation for me to get back to a healthy lifestyle could be the kids at camp, rather than myself. So I reached out to all of you, my loved ones.

At this point, the current totals amazing! No matter how much I lose, I have been sponsored in the amount of $265.00 In addition, every single pound I lose is worth $86.33!!!!!

So this biggest challenge....my brakes went out yesterday. My car was stuck in a parking lot at a gas station for hours and I cried nearly the whole time because I just paid $450 to have my tires changed. Not happy, not happy at all. As I sat in the car waiting for the tow truck I contemplated walking to 7-11 for food. Apparently, I am an emotional eater. I stopped myself from going and made a mental note that this was something I would have to control about myself since I never knew.

Thank you for your support....you got me through my first roadblock on this journey!! :)