Amy's Journal: Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you so much everyone, Pearlieq, nice to meet you, thanks for stopping by!

I went to WW today, I was up another pound but am strangely enough okay with that. I went to the movie last night (Juno, very cute movie) and had popcorn with butter some Junior Mints then went to Village Inn and had a piece of pumpkin pie. Really dumb choices the night before weigh in. So I took my one pound gain and was happy it wasn't more. Today was rough food wise, I got too hungry for lunch, then dove into too many girl scout cookies. Girl Scouts are evil! I bought ten boxes but only kept four, gave the others away to be sent over to the troops. We only have two boxes left, I gave dh a whole row of thin mints to take to his office and then gave some to ds to put in his locker. The kid kills me, they'll probably still be in there when he cleans his locker out the last day of school! Unlike me, my children are not obsessed with food.

Made a very healthy dinner for the kids tonight, Dan and I were supposed to go out but due to my unhealthy choices during the day I told him I didn't want to eat much. He got Chipotle for himself and I did have some guacamole (very small container) and an ice tea.

I am disgusted that I have not exercised yet again. I got a bit offtrack today. I had sent letters to various friends of my mom's that I was pretty sure didn't know she had died. I received two replies in the mail today, really nice, long letters from friends who had such nice things to say about my mom. One letter in particular got me. One of her friend's from when I was a kid, this lady's husband was a pall bearer at my dad's funeral in 1972. Her letter was really touching, lots of memories she shared. And it sent me straight to the Thin Mints. Oh well, could've been worse, I could have hit the bottle instead I guess.

I did grocery shop, I have my Dream Dinners session on Friday and I have drank a ton of water. Tomorrow I will exercise (I know I say that every dang journal entry).

Last but not least, dh and I decided we wanted to stay at a moderate in April. Finally decided on Port Orleans Riverside. Planning the details of my trip has been fun and kept my mind off various things. Easter is coming up, the first holiday so to speak. Think I'll make a healthy brunch for just the four of us and stepdad and call it a day. Easter was my mom's favorite holiday. The woman loved bunnies, dyeing Easter Eggs and the whole concept of rebirth. Being at the store today and seeing all the candy and decorations really depressed me. And makes me realize that holidays are going to be hard but we'll get through them. Thanks to the Girl Scouts I wasn't remotely tempted to buy candy, not even one Reese's peanut butter egg made its way into my basket!

Thanks for reading.

Thankful for:
Went to WW, never easy when I know I have gained but I went.
For my friend "J" who went with me to WW, its always more fun with a friend.
For dh who brought me guacamole and didn't expect me to make conversation on our usual Wednesday date night and let me sit in a funk and watch Third Watch reruns. I needed to chill and he let me. Poor man probably thinks his wife is never going to be normal again.

Forgot to post my food:

Breakfast: ff/sf yogurt with 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
Lunch: Plain baked potato with 1/2 small chili and 1 cup fresh salsa (Wendy's and my salsa)
Snack: 10 Girl Scout cookies throughout the day. Hate those things!
Dinner: Small guac from Chipotle, chips, parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup bow tie pasta

Not enough veggies, although my salsa was mostly tomatoes so that actually counts as a veggie or two. The cookies killed me, up to that point I had done really well. Oh well, tomorrow is another day, thank goodness.

 

[pearlieq]

Wasn't Juno awesome? I loved that movie--it was just so smart and sweet, and very well cast. I want to see it again so I'm going with one of my friends on Saturday.

I think you're right--the Girl Scouts must be some evil secret society whose main goal is to fatten us all up. They're sneaky too--they look all cute and wholesome and then they whip out the cookies. I hope you're succesful in getting rid of the rest.

That's wonderful that you got such nice letters from your mother's friends. It was nice of you to think of them and nice of them to say such kind things. That was (is, I guess) still one of the hard things about losing MIL. She and her husband kind of lived in separate spheres and since DH and I are in a different state, no one exactly knows who all of her friends are, so every once in a while we meet another person and have to break the news all over again.

When are you going in April? POR sounds like a lot of fun--the boats to DTD are so great.

Good job resisting the peanut butter eggs. I'm sure this Easter will be hard, but you're going to get through. You have a wonderful, supportive family who will help you honor her memory.

I hope today is a great day for you!

 

[goldcupmom]

One day at a time, Amy! Even if it's a holiday.....

You have done wonderful on food. The day I got the call about my mom's hip (which we knew would do her in) I stood on the phone & ate more than HALF of a sheet cake from Sams.....all downhill from there..

Healing takes time, patience & love. You will be ok.

Hope today goes better for you!

 

[toystoryduo]

One day at a time, Amy! Even if it's a holiday........Healing takes time, patience & love. You will be ok.

I agree with, Julie. You are doing an amazing job, Amy. Just take it one day at a time and you will be okay!

Can we hear your plans for your Disney trip in April? I know you changed your resort to POR. What about dining? Any special plans while there?

I hope you have a great day today. Please be sure and take some time just for you.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have only eaten 3 girl Scout cookies today which is a major accomplishment. I did count the points too. I got a call from stepdad that sent me over but I didn't eat my way through it! Long story short, he is going to an event of his grandson's today and was all full of that. Like I care, these people treated my mom so badly for 20 years and now of course he can't get enough of them. And I know they are his kids, but I can't help but get sick of hearing about them. Last time this particular event occured, he and my mom went, and nobody talked to her all day. So screw them, I hope they all get food poisoning at dinner tonight. I am viscious, what can I say? If just once my stepdad would say: "I really miss your mom today" it would be nice. I know we all grieve differently but in my opinion he is not grieving at all. I thought it was shock, now I have no idea. If he say's one more time: "well, I'm not glad your mother died but I do enjoy my new life" I will probably slap him.

I went to Curves today, there must be peace in the middle east! I enjoyed the workout and enjoyed the ladies, altough they all remind me of my mom. Good news, I am the youngest lady there, I felt like a teenager!

Food:
Breakfast: shredded wheat with skim and walnuts
Lunch: Lean Cuisine, orange
Snack: 3 Tag a Longs. Evil little girls who sold them to me!
Dinner: Turkey tostadas and salad
Snack: yogurt

I am about to take a walk with dd, its a lovely day, almost hit 60 degrees. MIght as well get out and enjoy it. Thats two sessions of exercise in one day, I must be dreaming!

Thanks for all your support, Pearlieq, Julie and Tracy.

Julie: A half sheet cake, yeah I could do that. Thank God there wasn't one around today when stepdad called!

Pearlie: I am seriously thinking I might see Juno again, I just loved that movie! Enjoy it on your second showing!

Tracy: I didn't get POR after all. It sold out before my TA could book the room. So we will stay at Music, save $350 and be happy! I really like Music and since the rooms are redone it will be even nicer than when we stayed there last time. I just love that boat to DTD!

I'll check in with you all later, I have to make dinner, walk and then go to ds' school orientation. Found out a girl from his class at private school is going to this school too. She may be the only person out of 1400 kids he knows, hope they have a class together. Its going to be huge difference for him but I am hopeful it will be good change.

 

[Caitsmama]

amy, hi there!! Congrats on the girl scout cookie temptation willpower!!! I am sittin' here staring at 5 boxes of different ones myself.. (yes, dd is a gs.LOL) My downfall is the caramel delights (or samoas as us older GS are use to) LOL

 

[Goofydiane]

Amy -

Congrats on planning the trip to WDW, you and your family will have a great time.

Good job with the Girl Scout cookies today. The good thing about Girl Scout cookies is that they only come around once a year and when they are gone, they are gone, you can't run out to the store and buy more boxes.

Curves and a walk with dd - a great exercise day. I'm jealous over the 60 degree weather you are having, I'd just like to have 2 digits in the temperature when they talk about it around here!

Diane

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Stacy and Diane.

I ate another girl scout cookie ! Still, 4 within points is better than the ten I had yesterday! Good point Diane, when they are gone, they are gone. It can't be soon enough! I just came home from orientation starved, so I had a glass of skim milk and one thin mint. Now I feel satisfied and I got my milk in today which was good.

I did well at dinner, my turkey tostadas were tasty.

Orientation went great! Loved, loved, LOVED that school. I can see both of my kids doing very well there. They have a dynamic prinicpal and the rest of the staff seemed really happy and loving thier jobs. So different from the public middle school ds did as a sixth grader. We knew for sure ds would go to this new school, dd got in but still had the choice to go to the middle school in our neighborhood that ds went to. My thinking about this was that just becasue he had a God awful experience didn't mean she would and virtually all of her friends from elementary go there. However, after tonight and talking with some satisfied parents in the last couple of weeks I knew she needed to go here. 800 students which is about 400 fewer than the other school, so that is much better. DD can pretty much make friends anywhere she goes and actually a few friends from church and volleyball as well as a couple of kids from her elementary all go there. She is excited and looking through the info on electives deciding what she wants to do. My little girl is a middle schooler, yikes!

Tomorrow is Dream Dinners, a walk and a major amount of cleaning and laundry. And no more than three Girl Scout thin mints!

Thanks for reading!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad to hear that orientation went well last night. It sounds like the kids will really like the school and the staff sounds very supportive.

Amy, no worries about the cookie you had after the orientation last night. You had a taste for the cookie, you had only 1, and you got your milk in....That is a victory! Great job!!!

Great job getting to Curves and getting a walk in with your DD. I wish the weather would warm up here. We're expecting another 2-4 inches of snow today on top of the 12+ inches we already have. I am sooooooo ready for Spring!

You and your family will have a wonderful time at ASMu!!!

Hope you have a great weekend!

 

[pearlieq]

Mmm...turkey tostadas. That sounds so good!

I'm glad to hear orientation went well--how exciting. I hope the kids have a great time!

60 degrees out, eh? You're killing me! Good for you for getting to Curves AND a walk! That's awesome, and so good for the spirit. Also, big kudos to you for enjoying the GS cookies in moderation. You're doing a great job.

To be honest, your stepdad sounds like quite a piece of work. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that. It sounds like you're handling it well and you're being very honest about how you feel. Any luck with the food poisoning?

I hope today is a great day for you!

 

[Caitsmama]

But, no one told you how great the GS cookies freeze?

I had one today too (so far) , but ate excellent the rest of the day!! I think maybe i should put a box in front of my TM, to make me want to work harder!!!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
your food looks really good (despite the cookies )
Glad the school visit went well it sounds great my DD's school has over 2000 pupils so 800 is brill!!
Enjoy the dream dinner

 

[Goofydiane]

Hi Amy - the Turkey Tostada's sound fabulous! Care to share the recipe? I've got a great Turkey Chili recipe if you are interested. I don't know the WW points because almost everything, if not all of it is Core. Very high in fiber as well.

Hope you had a great weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Amy - the Turkey Tostada's sound fabulous! Care to share the recipe? I've got a great Turkey Chili recipe if you are interested. I don't know the WW points because almost everything, if not all of it is Core. Very high in fiber as well.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Diane,

I just brown a pound of lean turkey (I get the 99% lean variety) and then add a packet of low sodium taco seasoning and a can of drained, chopped tomatoes and enough water to keep it from being dry. I think its four points per 4 oz serving (meat only).

This weekend was very nice. Dan and I had from Friday night around 8:00 to about 2:00 p.m. today to ourselves! This was the first time we had that much time to ourselves since 2004. I think we were overdue! We had dinner out both nights and lunch out as well on Saturday. So my food was not good at all and I had quite a few cocktails. But it was worth it. Today I got back on track and got on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I am determined to do well tomorrow and Tuesday. I just tried to let life go mentally and enjoy my time with Dan and friends (we had dinner with other couples both nights) and relax. I got a bit stressed today, ds was up in the mountains for a church retreat and it was a total blizzard, they had to go over a mountain pass, in horrible weather and Dan and I both were a bit worried. They were supposed to be back in town by 3:30 but it was closer to 5:00. So that stressed me out a bit, other than that, I didn't worry about much all weekend!

I need to catch up with journals but will probably do that tomorrow. I am off to a hot bath and a good book! Thanks for reading and caring, as usual, I find my WISH friends to be right there for me.

 

[toystoryduo]

Sounds like you had a great weekend, Amy! That is great that you and Dan had some alone time.

I'm glad to hear that your DS is safe and sound after the blizzard this weekend.

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead! Take good care of you!

 

[lovinaz]

I'm glad you loved the school! That has to be such a huge relief.

Yay on the kid-free time! It's hard to get used to not having that noise around, isn't it? I would also have been worried sick about the blizzard. But everything worked out OK, and that's what counts!

Great job getting on the treadmill! I think once you get a couple workouts under your belt you will be able to get into a routine.

I saw an ad for a new show coming up, it's on Discovery Health or maybe TLC. It's called "I Can Make You Thin" or something like that. It starts next Sun and looks like it is more about the MENTAL part of losing weight. I'm going to TiVo it to see what it's all about!

Have a great week, I'll be thinking of you as I leave my sunny AZ weather for dreary UK weather. I'll get a taste of what you have to go through every winter!

 

[pearlieq]

What an awesome weekend! Sounds so fun and relaxing.

And major kudos to you for getting right back on track! That is truly fantastic!!!

I hope today is a great one!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Amy
Sounds like you had a lovely weekend with DH
My EX Dh has decided hes not having DD overnight at the weekend anymore - just during the day -- so no more romantic nights alone for us
Glad DS got home safely!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you so much everyone!

Today was a very good day. I got a lot done, walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes and really picked up my pace. I have been doing only about 3.2 per hour, today I kept it between 3.5 and 3.8. I was really sweating which is a good thing. Tomorrow I hope to Curves.

Food today:
Breakfast: 3 pieces light bread and 2 eggs (french toast) and 1/4 cup zero calorie syrup

Lunch: two pieces of pizza

Snack, ff/sf yogurt

Dinner: chicken with rice, salad

Water: 80 oz.

I only had three servings and no fruit but I still thought this was an okay day. The pizza wasn't the best choice but I stopped at two pieces and counted the points.

Had a nice talk with stepdad today. He was very sad and tearful. Said it hit him over the weekend and he realizes he has just been going throught the motions and feels suddenly overhwhelmed and sad. Well finally. Maybe I have been too hard on him. I realize that his sons are the ones that I can't stand and make me ill, not him. He didn't mention them once today. Every time he does, it brings back a lot of unpleasant feelings and memories of what my mom went through in 20 years. In all the years she was sick and all the times she was in the hospital they never one time came to see her. And of course sorting through her things and finding some pretty nasty (as in cruel and so hateful) letters written to her hasn't helped me to like them better. When he brings them up and drones on about them it makes me angry. I have told him that and pretty much done everthing but hang up on him when he does this so maybe he has gotten the hint. It will benefit our relationship greatly if he does. I think he is just trying so hard to stay busy and not fall apart. At his age (83) I am sure he is scared of what the future holds for him. I think Sunday was also hard for him since it was a blizzard, he was all alone and nobdy, including me called him. He invited us over for dinner on Thursday. He is serving: frozen quiches, buffalo wings and caesar salad. Had to laugh, he obviously still has some frozen leftovers from New Year's Eve! He also has an apple pie some neighbor brought him that he froze. That should be a diet disaster. Maybe I'll bring something to go with those wings and quiches!

We ate the first of the "Dream Dinners" I made. It was very tasty and so easy. I think I'll make maybe 10 of those a month at most. Some of them are high in salt. But way better than a drive thru. Tonight was great, ds had church so we needed something fast. It took me 25 minutes to warm up what I had already made. I could totally do this at home, make a bunch of stuff on the weekend but I never will do that. Too much shopping, prepping and mess to prepare that many meals all on my own. It took me 1 hour to assemble 7, six serving meals. And no clean up or shopping involved.

Thanks for reading!

Thankful for:
Today was a good day followed by a good weekend. I have my moments all day throughout the day. But I feel like I just made it out of a dark spot. The exercising has helped quite a bit. When I finish I feel like I really did something for myself.

 

[toystoryduo]

Today was a very good day.

Amy, I am so happy to hear you say that! It blessed my heart to read that this morning.

Great job getting on the TM yesterday!!! Won't it be wonderful when we can actually walk OUTSIDE?!?!?

I'm glad that you liked Dream Dinners.

Hope you have a wonderful day!