Scale Woes

In my previous post, I talked about my one pound gain and how the following week was going to be better.  Well, all was well until Saturday morning when I got on the scale before I went to WW.  I know, I know, I preach about how you should only weigh in once a week, but I'm not that good.  I often weigh myself on Wednesday mornings just to make sure I'm on the right track, because if I am I get myself more motivated to have a really good weigh-in on Saturday.  This past Wednesday's weigh-in was down from the weight from Saturday (it appeared as if the pound had left) then I did it again on Saturday and it had gone up 2 pounds (one more pound than last Saturday's weigh-in).  This dumbfounded me because I had a really good work-out week (I jogged on Tuesday and Friday and took the dog for a good walk on Wednesday).  I'm guessing I was bloated or something from my nephew's birthday party the previous night.  Anyway, I went to WW but I did not officially weigh-in because I don't think I could have handled another gain.  The fact that I went to the meeting anyway shows that I've grown because last fall I would have just stayed home and then have an even worse week, getting completely off track!

So on Friday (the day of the birthday party) I jogged 4.8 miles.  I thought this would help my weigh-in and negate any cake I would have that evening.  Although it didn't help the next weigh-in, it did help my confidence in jogging.  It felt good.  I was going to just do 45 minutes, but when I hit that time, I figured why not keep going?  So I just kept on another 15 minutes.  It wasn't fast (b/n 12:30 and 13 minute miles) but I'm improving every time I get on the treadmill.

I also have recently tried on my old size 12 work pants from Gap.  I love these pants (I have about 3 pairs) and can't wait to wear them again because they are comfy and fit so well).  I was able to get them on and zip them up, they were just too tight to wear in public.  This gives me hope!  I also went shopping Saturday because everything at Ann Taylor Loft was 40% off.  I was able to get a few tops and a pair of capris.  It felt so nice to go into one of my old favorite stores and buy things that fit.  I am nowhere near my goal weight, but I'm beginning to see the goal line in sight.  I just need to be there by Karrie's wedding so I can look back at the pictures and think about how awesome of a time it was and not focus on how I looked.

Wrong Direction

For the first time this year, the scale moved in the wrong direction.  On Saturday when I weighed in, I was up one pound.  I was somewhat expecting this, so I wasn't too horribly upset.  Instead I sat down for the meeting and vowed this week would be better.

I didn't get too many workouts in last week and I didn't eat the greatest.  I think all the eating out I did the week before didn't help.   Plus it was the last week of the hexter at school, which meant I had a lot of work to get done.  I also had two meetings (that were both forgotten about until the last minute!) and one of them was with all of the current middle school art teachers.  This was not a great time for me.  Everyone was asking me about the job (not everyone knew I didn't get it, and everyone is shocked that I didn't).  So I got pretty down on myself, even though I know it doesn't have to do with me personally, but anytime you are rejected in some form you automatically think "What did I do/say wrong?".  The stress from that, getting grading done and getting organized, I believe, impacted my weigh-in.

This week I have gotten in three workouts so far.  Sunday I jogged 4.5 miles,  yesterday I walked Gracie around the neighborhood for 30 minutes, and today I ran intervals for 35 minutes (trying to improve my pace from my slow 13 minute miles!).  If the weather is nice, I will take Gracie again tomorrow and then I plan on jogging again Friday after school.  This week is very low key for me, starting new classes means I don't have anything to grade and since both of my 8th grade classes are pottery I have less to plan.

Only 5 weeks left until school is out!!  Holy cow... I better  get to working on my arms....

Not Much

So I'm typing this on my iPhone because it is almost impossible now to do anything on the computer without Josie interfering! She likes to unplug the computer and reach for the keys any which way she can. This past Saturday I weighed in with a loss of 1.2 pounds. I did already treat myself to a pedicure even though I have 1.8 pounds to lose until I reach my first ten pound goal. I also had the chance to jog 3.5 miles on the treadmill that afternoon. Sunday was Easter which meant a lot of activity and buffets of food. I think I did alright food wise considering the ample opportunities I had to binge on some of my favorite foods. However, this week has not been the greatest with exercise... The food has been okay but unless I get another good workout in, I'm not thinking it's going to be a great weigh-in. It's the last week of the hexter so I've been at school late all week and I've already had two afternoon meetings that were forgotten about until about an hour until the start time. Let's just say I've been a bit scatterbrained and forgetful this week. I'm hoping to get a run in tomorrow or Friday to help my numbers on Saturday.

Spring Break

Today is the first day of spring break (my first paid for spring break, yahoo!).  Honestly, it wasn't too bad of a day.  I apologize for taking so long to update my blog.  With the whole job interview and not getting the job and wondering what to do stress, this was sort of the last thing on my mind.  Weight loss, however, was not the last thing on my mind.  Thankfully, the afternoon I found out I didn't get the job my mom offered to take me out to lunch.  It was a late lunch, about 1:30, but we went to Panera and I got a salad, which saved me from doing something like going to Qdoba to get nachos and wallow in my frustration.  It's not so much that I'm sad I didn't get the job, I am just angry because the decision was made based on politics not on who is the best person for the job.  I had everything working for me: administrators calling the principal to give a recommendation, other teachers giving recommendations, an awesome teaching portfolio, etc.  Unfortunately, they chose someone less qualified but someone who had been on short-term contract at the same school.  This person also happened to be someone my principal interviewed for my job and did not like...

Anyway, the week before I had lost .2 of a pound, making it a total of 30, but this past week was better, a loss of 1.4 pounds for a total of 31.4.  I like to think my new iphone and Weight Watchers app have helped me keep better track of my food intake and how much I've worked out.  This 1.4 loss was after a stressful week with not a lot of working out, a sick kid (bronchitis), a sick me (allergies), and the whole job thing.  So I'm thinking this week should be even better!  On Sunday I got back on the treadmill (feeling better after the steroid shot I had for my allergies) and I jogged 4 miles straight.  It felt really good.  This morning I went for a walk with Josie before it got too hot and finally remembered to use my Nike+ app to track my workout.  I was sweating by the time I got home and my hamstrings could definitely feel the hills I busted my butt up!

I need to figure out a way to tone up my arms for the summer.  The cardio will help my legs and overall appearance, but I need to do something for my shoulders, biceps, triceps, and upper back.  Hopefully I can get a workout figured out soon because summer will be here before I know it!