Need to Vent...

Darren and I are trying to plan a new schedule. We find when we don't schedule everything, nothing gets done. It's the most ridiculous thing, because I can't believe that a 2 year old can require so much time that it impacts household productivity. It does though, and that's the only solution we've come up with so far to get things done on the weekends.

So we've decided that we would try to do the food shopping on Friday nights, after getting out of work and before picking up Cassie. This turned out to be pretty good, except it took us even longer to shop going without her. LOL

In any case, we finished the shopping and went to the checkout. As history dictates, I have the knack for finding the one line in the store that has a challenge. Last night was no exception. I'm really not sure what was happening, but a mother and daughter were waiting on the cashier and bagger to find something.. some key, or something. After 10 minutes, I looked at my watch, and told Darren to go get Cassie from school; I'd wait and meet him at home.

Before he left, I said "Just my luck, I always pick the wrong line". I didn't mean any offense by it. I said it quietly to my husband. I literally waited 15 minutes before they even started ringing up my order. When the mother and daughter left, the mother looked at me, turned her back and said, "...that fat bitch...."

Yeah, she said it about me. Even the Cashier was stunned.

Yeah, I'm still fat, but I'm not a bitch, unless I need to be. Clearly, Friday night at the food store shouldn't present the need to be such.

It bothers me I let her get to me. I wasn't having a particularly blue day, but I got in my car and my eyes welled up. Why do people have to be so mean? She's a grown adult... behaving a teenager! Why did I have to be the one she chose to release her anger on? She doesn't know the first thing about me.

Typically this kind of thing doesn't bother me, but it did, and I guess it still does a since it's the next day and I feel the urge to write/vent about it.

I've been rotten about posting, and even worse about noting. I love my fellow bloggers, but when my BlogRoll isn't working, I get behind on everyone's entries! Sorry!

Things have been moving along fine. I've gone another week without losing a thing, which kind of wigs me out, but I know it's going to happen. Still, it's such a mind f*ck.

I'm wearing my 18's to work today, so I know I'm losing inches. My tops are all huge on me and I've had to do a little shopping.

I pulled my hip flexor in my Tuesday training session -- so much so it had me limping. I've never pulled anything so bad that I heard a "Pop!" It freakin' hurt, and I'm no whimp.

It's Rodeo time here in Houston and I want to lasso me up some tickets, but just about every artist I want to see in concert is sold out.

Baby Vince arrived in the world safely last Thursday. Baby and Mommy are doing fine. Big brother is especially proud and tells everyone, "I'm the Big Brother."

My little "Cassinator" (Cassie) is great. It blows my mind how quickly these little ones grow. She loves to sing right now, and sings herself to sleep each night. For a while it was Rudolph, but now she's singing the theme to VeggieTales. She's got her ABC's down pat now (at least when she sings) and makes my heart melt when she sings "You are my Sunshine."

And on that happy thought, I'll start getting some work done. :)

2 Month "Surgiversary"

Well, yesterday marked 2 months post op. I had hoped to hit -50 lbs. yesterday, but was shy just a few tenths. Of course today it came -- Whooohoo! I am now below my pre-pregnancy weight, and just 14 lbs. from my lowest adult weight.

The triathlon thing is for real now. I told my trainer and he's jazzed. He's researching what muscle groups he needs to train for me to do the swim well. He's a good egg. :)

The weather has been unseasonably cold here, so that accounts for all the extra calorie burning I think. The weather has been so strange for Texas. Thankfully, I'm south of the City of Houston, closer to Galveston, and there hasn't been a ton of percipitation, so we've been free of the snow and ice other parts of the state are receiving. I wish I had some pretty icey-tree pics like Mrs. Sign. Makes me miss NJ, my real home -- I just "live" here.

My Friend Jenn (no, not you Mrs. Sign!) is bringing a darling baby boy into the world today. I'm off for the day so I can sit for her first darling baby boy while she has baby Vince.

I need to take Cassie to school, get to the gym, then to Michael's. I have to get some arts and crafts stuff they can do. Thomas is 3 and my Daughter is, of course, 2.

That's it for now 6:03 -- gotta get going!

Happy Surgiversary to me. So far I'm glad I did it and only wish I did it sooner. It ain't easy sometimes, but it's worth it to feel as good as I do!

No more waiting or wondering...

http://tririffic.blogspot.com/

With a high of 39, and steadily declining, I feel like I am back on the East coast! Not that I really mind the cold. During the Winter I get the most homesick. I really do miss the snowy days of winter back in New Jersey. You can move the jersey girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl.

I went to the gym first thing in the morning on Saturday, and I do mean first-thing (4:30 am!). To reward my efforts, later I got my hair cut and highlighted, so that felt really good.

Sunday we had a support group meeting and the "Food Cop" was our speaker. She was very animated and was a lot of fun to listen to. I actually learned something I will share here.

If you haven't heard, when looking at the fat content of foods, you want to shoot for foods that have 20% or less, calories from Fat; this is just a dietary guideline.

So, say you're looking at a Healthy Choice meal: 380 Calories and 13 grams of fat. It's Healthy Choice, right? should be decent? Round up (or down) the calories to the closest 50. So in this case it will be 400 calories.

Next, count by 50's (divide by 50 if you don't want to use your fingers). 400/50 = 8. So if the Healthy Choice meal had only 20% (or less) of it's calories from fat, it would have 8 grams or less of fat; a great little trick, if you don't want to remember how many calories is in a gram of fat, and do the math the long way. You'd be surprised to find out what you thought was a Healthy Choice, isn't so healthy.

For those watching sodium, the amount of sodium should not exceed the number of calories. Take a look at a can of cream of mushroom soup. You'll die!

One last thing -- that can of PAM for "fat free" cooking? Check the label look at the number of servings per can -- The can in my house has 823 servings! They say a serving (spray) is 1/3rd of a second. How the heck do you count 1/3rd of a second?

Just some highlights, courtesy of the Food Cop. :)

As far as my weight loss it's still on the slow side, but I know it's coming off somehow -- things are fitting me that haven't fit before. My training at the gym is going really well. I can really see things take shape, and I just love pushing myself.

Speaking of pushing one's self, an acquaintance through another friend completed the Houston Marathon yesterday at a little more than a 12 minute pace. I can't even imagine running that far. I'll bike 40 miles, but run 26? No freakin' way! My trainer says it's because I've never hit that "runner's high". He's still trying to talk me into running. I'm just not sure it's my thing.

It's been since 2003 since I've done the Danskin Tri (pre-baby), and I definitely want to do it again in June. I know I can! I just need to get in the pool and start swimming, that's the biggest challenge for me.

Most participants will be able to complete a sprint distance triathlon - .75K (1/2 mile Swim, 20K (12 mile Bike) and 5K (3.1 mile Run) in 1 ½ to 3 hours. Career triathletes will complete a sprint distance Race in about an hour. I think we finished in a little over 2 hours in 2003.

Oh, and to add to the challenge, it's in the hills of Austin, TX. You know... that little place where Lance Armstrong lives. LOL There's usually a 5K in the area the day before the tri. I could set a goal of actually running that.... eh, maybe not. LOL.

I've been doing some surfing around the blog-o-sphere. I've come across some really unique bloggers -- there are some very interesting and well-written/spoken folks who share so much. it's really quite amazing. I'm glad to have found a few new regulars to read.

I should get to work... it is Monday morning, after all.

What would happen if we did just leave things unfinsihed in Iraq; scoop up our jacks, take our ball and go home?

And Just because I can't resist these things... My Bloginality is ISTJ!!!

Today marks week 8 and, finally, the week that ended my plateau! Yeah!! The scale started moving again!

I heard a story on NPR yesterday that really has been stuck in my mind. Baghdad NPR staff member Saleem Amer told listeners about how he and his wife were preparing to have a baby in war-torn Baghdad. I believe Saleem's family was Shiite. There were two hospitals, but the best, closest and most practical to them was a Sunni hospital. (I could have this reversed -- I have an awful memory).

In any case, they chose the Sunni hospital. Now, when he said hospital, it's not what you think. They have to bring their own water, blankets, pain medications, space heaters, etc. Even someone from the family has to be with the patient at all times to administer their care. Saleem's wife was scheduled for a C-section. So, I guess the doctors cut, deliver and close -- the family does the rest.

What made this day the best and worst in Saleem's life was information the nurse shared with him. She told himthat the malitia comes to the hospital every night checking for Shiites, who when found were killed. Saleem didn't want to leave his wife and (at the moment) unborn child. The baby, named Yousef, was finally born. Saleem was filled with the glory that only a new parent could fathom. That moment you meet your child for the first time is just beyond description, so I won't even try.

Of course Saleem was torn as to what to do; stay in the hospital with his family or leave with his brother. His family encouraged him to go and be safe. After the birth of Yousef, Saleem could not leave his family. In the end he bribed the nurse and their names were removed from the list of those in the hospital. Saleem barely slept through the night, but they made it through and the nurse kept her promise to them.

Knowing that kind of pressure just escapes me. The closest thing to that kind of fear I've ever experienced was when the doctors though my Daughter had neuroblastoma when she was 4 months old. Both my husband and I would have nights when we'd just lay in bed crying, for fear of the unknown. We spent 2 or 3 days in the hoptial with her to have tests run; it was the most harrowing experience of my life. Just hearing Saleem's story brought a wave of fear back over me. Of course the situations are different, but it prompted my feelings nontheless.

It reminds me how blessed we really are.

Ring in the New Year

Here it is, 2007. I feel I should have some sort of insightful entry to start the new year, but the truth is I don't. I've never been one to set resolutions, because the things I would choose are typically the very things I should be doing out of caring for myself already. Kinda like the people who give up Chocolate during the Lenten season. LOL

But, nonetheless we're here, and the only thing I can hope for this year is focus. Continiued focus. Focus on me attaining a healthy weight, focus on a possible career change and focus on my relationships with myself and my friends and family.

And yet again, these are things that I should be doing, so I guess the new year will serve as my reminder and motivation to stay on top of various initiatives.

We had a nice New Year, spending with with friends of ours who have a 3 year old. My Daughter actually made it up until 11pm CST, and had a blast when we all started hollering "Happy New Year!" She didn't know what the heck was happening, let alone the fact that Mommy had her up 4.5 hours past her bedtime! LOL

Yesterday I saw my trainer and he took my measurements. He told me that despite seeing me come in and out of the gym, he knew I lost weight, but didn't realize just how much until I was standing in front of him face-to-face. By the way, Day 12 of this plateau. Ugh!