Amy's Journal: Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

I resisted going out last night, we stayed in, dh bought some shrimp and baked chips and I did eat that, within points. Unfortunately, my scale is showing that I have gained one pound. Very unhappy about that. Although every time I am sick, this happens to me. I really wanted this week to go differently, but it didn't so I can't change that.

Today we are taking dd11 and her friend to lunch and a movie. Ds is with a friend so it almost feels like a normal weekend for the first time in months. DD picked On the Border, I am heading to Dottie's site now to check out points values on their food and intend to do as well as I possibly can. And I really need to not eat popcorn at the movie but that smell reels me in each and every time!

We are also deciding this weekend if we will head to WDW in October or not. I have to decide if I want new bedroom furniture or a trip . I'll probably pick the trip, we have ff miles for two tickets, if we can use those that will probably be the deciding factor. Its just weird that we can now make plans and only have ourselves to consider as far as if it will work or not. Its somewhat nice and yet sad too. I guess bittersweet is the word I am looking for!

I had planned a walk but its 28, we got snow and no way am I going out there. So I will get on the treadmill instead later today. I am making a promise to myself and all my WISH sisters, I have to do it!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend, thanks for stopping by.

 

[MIdanceMom]

amy,

I am glad to hear that you have worked things out with the principal. You are absolutely right, the teacher is the adult in the situation. She needs to put her frustration aside, at least during school hours. I will say some prayers that you get the school of choice.

You have done really well this week. I know you said the scale wwas up, but you have been ill. You are also going through a really emotional time right now. I think you have done beautifully. You resisted Outback.

Good luck at WI tomorrow. Oh btw, I would go for the trip as well.

Take care,
Beth

 

[toystoryduo]

Amy,

I hope you're feeling better, sweetie. I know what you mean about gaining weight when you're sick. When I'm sick, I gain weight too and it frustrates the living daylights out of me!

I'm glad to hear that the principal is working with you on the school situation. Sending lots of prayers and your way for both of your kids and for them to get the school of choice for next year.

I hope you're having a good week so far!

 

[CACruisin']

Hang in there Amy. Remember good days & bad days & more good days to follow.

Me - I pick the trip everytime . DH - not so much. He keeps mentioning silly things like "new dishwasher" or "paint the house" . Do what feels right for you and your family, sweetie.

 

[traceycooper]

Oh Amy i finally get back on line & one of the 1st things i wanted to know was how you & your mom was doing.
I'm so sorry for your loss, but glad your mom is now at peace, hows step dad doing?
sorry i've not been able to be around for you but your deffinatly in my thoughts.
Take lots of time sweetie

 

[MIdanceMom]

Hey Amy,

Just wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you.


Beth

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you so much everyone. Have I told you all lately that I love you?? Seriously, I come on here and feel the support. Tracey, I have missed you! Beth, Anna and Tracy, thanks for being there for me as always.

So this week has been plainly awful. To recap things, the principal met with us and the teacher on Monday. Principal completely 180'd her attitude. The teacher sat and glared at us, she didn't apologize to Matthew and nothing was worked out. Dh and I just sat there too tired and overwhelmed to fight city hall so to speak. Teacher now basically either ignores Matthew or talks to him in a monotone. He is crushed. He really loved this woman and I am not sure when things got off track. I do know he's a challenge at times with his lack of focus but still, she has to be used to that. He is respectful and a hard worker and wants to please. The principal told me all along this woman cannot get past what she considers criticism of her teaching. She also told me that if the teacher didnt' apologize and get this situation worked out she would be fired. Which is not what I at all wanted. No problem, principal completely backed down, tucked her tail between her legs and dh and I basically let her. What got me angry was that she told ds he would fail next year in public school and no wonder he gets bullied since he's a crybaby. We have to stay put, its midyear and we can't move him again. But next year its back to public school and even with its flaws you have a system and more than one person to make or break the situation. I am disappointed with the teacher and the principal who I think just as intimidated by this teacher as my son is. I just want to make it through the next four months, I told ds this is the way life is sometimes, you have to coexist with people you don't always like and respect but it can make your stronger. As long as she doesn't verbally abuse my son, I think we can survive it. What a mess and so what I didn't need! When I pick him up, she won't even acknowledge me. What a nice, mature adult. And this is a Christian school?

Food has been all over the place. I did marginally well on the weekend. Survived On the Border nicely, didn't eat popcorn at the movie. However, Monday was Amy's Binge Day. I ate what wasn't nailed down starting with a trip thru the Mcdonald's drive thru for a breakfast sandwich meal that was disgustingly high in fat. This all after my meeting at school, which caused me to miss my WW meeting. I sat in the car eating my food, sobbing while it snowed. Very pathetic picture of my life. So I will do WW today, yesterday was good on food. No exercise yet, very pathetic. Of course its snowy and cold and dreary here. I hate winter!

Good news is that we are going to WDW in October and stepdad is joining us. I just called DVC and reserved a two bedroom at Saragtoga Springs for a week. He'll be three weeks shy of his 84th birthday and says he wants to try out Expedition Everest! We'll see. The kids are so excited and I think this will be good for all of us. We went that same time frame, same resort in 2005with my mom. It will be sort of hard and yet should bring back a lot of happy memories. I wish my brother and his wife could come too, but their girls don't have fall break. That would have been perfect, maybe another time! So no bedroom furniture and I couldn't care less!

A friend (Amy of lovinaz fame) has suggested I put WDW pictures around the house, on the frig and in the car (to avoid drive thru tempations). I really want to lose weight for my WDW trips. There is nothing worse than trudging around WDW 100 pounds overweight. So I am in the process of doing that, the kids think is sort of funny to have these WDW reminders all over the place. Hey, whatever works right? I need some motivation to remind me that being healthy and able to live my life as I want is worth more than food gratification. I will get on the treadmill this afternoon when I return from WW.

Thanks so much for sticking with me and supporting me. I can't believe all thats happened in the last two months but I am hopeful things will FINALLY settle down. I invited friends over on Saturday night for pizza and stepdad is taking us out Friday night for dh's 40th birthday. So those are two nights to survive with food. I was supposed to see my sister on Sunday but have decided not to. My sister makes me feel like crap and I think I need to get in a better place before I tackle that one. Stepdad told me to only surround myself with people who can support me not knock me down. I haven't spoken to her (except via email) since the funeral. I think only time is gonna heal that one. But for now, I have too many other things to get through.

Thanks for reading, I need to catch up with all of you later today!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
So sorry things havnt gone well at your DS school & with food.
If its any concelation i was supposed to go to the gym but decided to do WDW research instead!
Thats great news your going to WDW with stepdad, your mom will be their in spirit I wish you were going when we're their so i could give you a big hug!
Love the idea of putting WDW pics around the house...actually i already have lots of pics in frames, so i cant pinch that idea!! I think when the weather improves we'll all feel much more motivated.
Take care

 

[goldcupmom]

Hang in there, Amy! It's horrid how so many schools are so uncaring about individual children & only care about the 'scores'. Unfortunately, most private schools are as bad or worse than the public.

Glad you get to plan a WDW trip. I like the picture idea - I have the ship we're supposed to cruise on hanging on my fridge.

Things will eventually feel 'normal' again - whatever that is. Until then, one day at a time....sometimes one HOUR at a time. Just love your DS & he'll make it thru!!

Hope you're having a better Wednesday!!!

PLEASE don't send us more cold & snow!!!!!! I need my guys to be able to ride cycles again!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Julie and Tracey. Julie, am I detecting a hint of winter frustration? I am sick of it too!

Tracey, one of these days we will be in WDW the same time, God help our livers!

I lost 4 pounds today which was very nice. I guess even with my extremely bad day on Monday the week was probably overall much better than I have been doing. It felt nice to have a loss on the scale. The lady that got behind me in line was about my mom's age, looked like her, dressed like her and was wearing her perfume (Beautiful). It almost made me cry. But I weighed in and suddenly felt better. That meeting time is good for me, think that will be my routine. Grocery shopped for healthy food afterwards then treated myself to a Blimpie's sub for lunch. Which was higher in points than Subway, no idea why.

Breakfast: Yogurt (1)
Lunch: Sub (9), chips (3)
Dinner: Burrito Bol from Chipotle (16)

Total for the day: 29

One point over, I can live with that. Hopefully by posting dinner, I can stick with that and not eat something I shouldn't. Water is good so far. Still need to walk, I think I should be able to get that in after I pick up the kids. It is nice to have a fresh start!

 

[lovinaz]

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on the loss!!!!!!!!!

And yay for getting a sub instead of a more unhealthy fast food choice!

Hopefully you can stay away from the snacks (look at your WDW pictures to stay focused) and end the day on that great note. WAY TO GO, keep up the good work!

 

[CACruisin']

on the loss!!! Great job!!!

See, you are on the right track!

I'm so glad you are going to WDW with stepdad. That will be a really, really nice trip for all of you. Your mom would have liked that and will be with you in spirit, I'm sure.

I'm sorry that the school thing is so bad. I know it is drastic, but what about homeschooling for the rest of the year? Whatever you do, just make sure that he knows he is loved and appreciated and it is the teacher that has a problem, not him. Poor kid.

 

[toystoryduo]

Amy,

I'm so sorry to hear about the situation at school.

Great job on the 4 pound loss!

I like the idea of the WDW pictures around the house. Sounds like great motivation to me!

Hope the rest of your week gets better. Take good care of you!

 

[postesf]

HI Amy! Sorry to hear about all your struggles lately!

CONGRATS on the 4lbs!!! Way to go!!!

Keep it up girl! Keep WDW and Saratoga Springs for-front in your mind. You can do it!

Stacie

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you so much everyone!

Anna: I did think of homeschooling. But in the end realized that since I am math illiterate, that might not be wise. And ds has always been my shadow, the last thing he needs is to be home with me all day. The good news is that said teacher is now so busy picking on a new kid that she hasn't had time to dish out much grief to ds. My faith in her is so not there I can't even express it!

Amy: The sub was tasty but still too high in points. But I piled extra lettuce on it (my own not iceberg) and it was really filling. That was sort of my treat for the day.

Tracy: When I look at those WDW pictures it cheers me up and motivates me. I just don't want to be this heavy when we go. Even losing 15 pounds would be helpful.

Stacy: SSR is a great place to walk, one of the reasons I chose that resort. I figure I can spend some time walking in October with my Ipod burning off the food I eat on the DDP!

Yesterday was not productive. I just felt so blah. I also woke up with legs that were so sore I could barely walk. I clearly overdid it on the treadmill the day before. So I rested the legs, lifted a few weights and did some stretches and will walk again today. A bit slower this time without the incline. No sense trying to build Rome in a day on the exercise front I guess!

I woke up feeling quite happy today, sun was out, I have the whole day to get stuff done, its a new day and then suddenly realized today was Friday, the day I have spent with my mom each and every week for years. She retired when I was pregnant with dd and we began spending time during the week together. So often she'd call and say "can I come over and spoil Matthew?" and it was so nice. Then when she got sick it became even more time taking her to this and that with the doctor etc. But Friday was our day to have lunch and have fun. No more. I realize this adjustment is going to take some serious time. I talked with my friend Amy yesterday, she lost her Mother to cancer a few years ago and she really did help me with understanding that I need to allow the time to grieve and heal but that it will get easier. I hope so.

I am also getting the details done slow but sure. Thank you notes to people who brought food and contributed to our local hospice and Susan Komen, helped stepdad compose a letter to people out of state who have no idea this has happened and I plan to begin cleaning out her clothes next week. That will be tough but its got to be done.

Food yesterday was okay. Unfortunately I have under estimated during the day on both Wednesday and Thursday and then when I have sat down to count the points have come up over. Which means I have currently used something like 11 flex points. So I need to start figuring the points as I write down the food and make sure I stay on target all day. I currently get 28 points at some point that will go down to as little as 18 as I lose weight. I need to start really focusing on foods that are high in satisfaction and nutrition but low in points. Because I am not sure with the way I currently eat I could ever live on 18 points a day! I guess its good thats a long way (as lots of pounds to lose) off!

Here is yesterday's food:
Waffle with 1 teaspoon butter, sf syrup: 3
Lean Cuisine, 1 t. olive oil, 2 tb parm cheese: 6
Pudding with 1 tb walnuts: 3
Grilled chicken on Romaine with parm cheese and croutons and dressing: 10
Glass of milk with 1 tb chocolate powder: 3
Kids size french fries: 5
Total: 30

Actually that only puts me over 2 points. I think I added wrong last night. In any case next time Wendy's gives me an extra kid sized fries I think I will throw it away! We all got healthy stuff, dd got a side salad with her meal but of course they gave her fries too. And of course I ate them. Very tasty, not worth 5 points at all!

I am going to add some healthy oil during the day. My WW leader swears by this, I am going to add it to my oatmeal in the a.m. and then another teaspoon later in the day. She said it will keep me satisfied longer. We'll, see. I am also going to add my two servings of milk, another of WW's healthy guidelines. But all of that adds up to 5 points, again making me wonder how people only survive on 18 points. If you have to have five points spent on the healthy guidelines, that only leaves 13 points for everything else! Guess I'll figure that out when I get to 150 pounds which is what I think you have to weight to only get 18 points! Never hurts to plan ahead I guess!

Tonight is Mexican Food. That won't be easy but I have to survive it. We have friends coming tomorrow night for pizza and beer and that I know will need some flex points to survive! At least I have still have the majority of them. 25 Flex Points left should be okay if I don't completely fall apart!

 

[goldcupmom]

I hear you on points, Amy. I'm at 21-22 (I count 1 for the 'housewife' instead of 2 as I spend way too much time in my car & on the computer) and it's HARD!!! I truly ignore the healthy guidelines most of the time. The thought of oil turns my stomach.

When I have my next bday, I'll have to drop to 20/21 due to the age factor even if I'm not in the 150s. Currently in 160s...barely.
Tall young people have it easier!!!

I understand you're mexican food dilema. tonight we have to go out to dinner w/ DH work ....asian....sodium overload!!!!

Have a good weekend!!

 

[traceycooper]

Congrats on the 4lb loss Amy
Your bound to miss your mom, but one day you will be able to think of her & it not hurt so much.
Have a lovely weekend & keep up the great exercise & eating

 

[toystoryduo]

Amy,

I know you are missing your mom today and just wanted to send you a gentle and prayers.

Have fun tonight and tomorrow night!

 

[MIdanceMom]

Hi Amy,

Thank you so much for your support. You mean the world to me.

Congratulations on the 4 pound loss. Little changes can lead to some impressive results. When you get down to that 20 points per day, you'll be earning 4-5 activity points too, so you can eat. As for my dairy consumption, well a venti skinny carmel latte gives me my 2 servings for 3 points, and I get a nice buzz to boot. I really don't do the healthy oil, except in my cooking. I saute in a bit of olive oil.

When you go to WDW, I think you should go to your Mom's favorite restaurant, and raise a toast in her honor.

Have a great weekend,
Beth

 

[toystoryduo]

Beth~ That is such a great idea! What a wonderful way to honor your mom at WDW, Amy!

Good morning Amy,

How did Mexican Night go last night? Hope you had a great time and had some good food.

I wanted to answer your question from my journal here.... We have been to Beaches and Cream once and only to get the Kitchen Sink. The Kitchen Sink is an amazing dessert! There's a ton of ice cream, brownies, cherries, candy bars, nuts, sprinkles, and an entire can of whipped cream. We had 12 people with us and it was hard to finish. Of course, we had eaten a huge brunch and no one was really hungry, but who can say no to ice cream like that? I've heard people say that you will get the best burger on property there, but we have only had the ice cream so I can't vouch for it. The food looked and smelled delicious though, especially the burgers and fries!

Hope you have a good time with your friends tonight. Take care sweetie!