marcia's journal (comments welcome!)

[A1A1]

Hi Marsh! You have given me some great menu ideas as well as some great planning ideas. I love that your family is so supportive.

Have a great day!!!!!!

 

[marsh0013]

hehe, lisa, your post made me giggle. the rangers play hockey, not baseball . i know other people may not know as much about sports as i do, so next time, i'm gonna make it clear what sport i'm going to watch

and thanks a for stopping by as well . i'm glad that i've given you some ideas


today is pretty boring, since my meals are the exact same as yesterday. the only difference (i think i posted this last night) is that i'm having a different morning snack.

i'm feeling extra positive today, and i'm not really sure why. this is a huge deal for me, because i'm usually such a negative person. maybe this better way of living is really having an affect on me. and having all of you guys around supporting me is just amazing. i just feel like i can do it, and that makes me so happy. it's also affecting other areas of my life. like my job situation. i hate it. and i've always said i wanted to get my certification in early ed, and i'm really thinking now that i'm going to do something about it, not just say it. ah, i don't know what i'm saying. i just feel really happy right now.

ok, the mail just got here and i have to sort it now. i'll be back later!

 

[Strings]

Hi Marcia,

I just finished your journal. Sorry it took me so long. You are doing an amazing job. All that running, Wow. That black toe sounds painful though. Enjoy your happy day.

I also wanted to thank you for your support on my journal yesterday. It really made a differance. Thank you.

Beth

 

[tkd lisa]

Marcia: I also just finished your journal. You're doing a great job! Sounds like weight watchers is a good program for you. And other than your brother (bad brother, being able to eat like that!!) your family is helping out! Thanks again for your nice comments on my journal.

And I'm so impressed with your exercise! I had to laugh when you say the 3 mile WATPs just isn't tough enough for you! It's plenty tough for me, but I've never been able to run. I can't make it through that point where it hurts! Good luck on the marathon! It sounds like you'll do great! There are some nice trip reports about the marathon on passporter's message board that might be worth a read, just to get a sense of what to expect.

Take care and have another great day! Lisa

 

[sharoncity]

Hi Marcia!

Hope your day is still going well! Don't do too many days with the same food, or for sure you'll burn out. A day or two in a row is okay, but a few weeks of it, you'll jump ship!

I know what you mean about this positive mood. Writing all the positive words of support has spilled over into the rest of my life. And it has certainly helped to keep me OP and meeting my goals!Here I am, "dieting" and I'm in a great mood! Go figure!

Anyhow, you've mentioned a couple of times now about getting your teaching certificate. If I may give you a little advice, GO FOR IT! Now is the time. It is easier time wise to do something like that before you have a husband and kids. And if it is something you'd like to do, it sure is a great field to go into. Plus, someday when you do have children, it sure is a lot easier to be on the same schedule as them - vacations, snow days, summer - no babysitter worries! I wish I had thought to go back before I had kids. It would be way too tuff now with my schedule. But it seems like you'd really like to do it and it will give you so much more satisfaction than your current work. Just think how easy it will be to study/do papers while doing your regular job! Well, thats my 2 cents any who.

Okay, have a good day and I'll stop by tomorrow.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Hi Marcia! You had me cracing up. It isn't even baseball season is it? I may not know much about sports but at least I do know that Superbowl Sunday is this week. The point is ya had a good time, right?

I urge you to ride this wave of well being and go for that teaching cert Marcia. It's a nobel profession and I have great respect for my children's teachers. You can do it!

 

[septbride2002]

Hiya Marsh - I wanted to stop in and say Hello! I haven't had a chance to read through your entire journal yet but I just wanted to say thank you for all the encouragement you have been giving me in my journal. It is great that you are having a more positive attitude and you seem to be doing really great with your Way of Eating!

~Amanda

 

[marsh0013]

thank you guys so much for all of your encouragement to get my teaching certificate. it's really hard for me to actually make moves in my life. i often talk about how much i don't like things, but i never do anything about it. but this time, i really am going to do something about it. i'm going to figure out what colleges there are around here where i can start taking classes, even if it's just community college. hey, i've started this healthy living thing (actually doing something about it, not just complaining about it!), so if i can do that, i can do this! and it'll help my financial situation as well, as crazy as that sounds. it will let me defer my student loans, and that will be more money than i care to think about, lifted each month. let's just say i have 100,000+ in loans (thanks nyu!), and i'm paying it back over only 12 years. yeaaaaah. not fun.

beth - the black toenail is getting better. it's pretty much just a blister under the toenail. i got new running shoes this weekend, and i have much more room in the toebox. i love these new shoes, they feel great all around

lisa (tkd) - thanks, i've really made exercise "my thing". even if i don't feel like following through on the food (not saying that i do, but i'm saying someday...), i know i will always follow through with the exercise. it just makes me feel so much better about myself. must be the runner's high or something

sharon - thanks for the advice on the food. it's so easy to just fall into a routine when it works. i tend to do something a few days in a row though, because of leftovers. other than that, i try to mix it up.

lisa (castillo mom) - hehe, i'm still laughing . and yes, i definitely did have a good time. a great time! and that's what matters for sure

amanda - hi, and thanks for stopping by my journal

thank you guys again. i'm gonna get a move on tomorrow with my research into classes.

here's my details for the day foodwise:

b: 1 cup cheerios + 1 banana + 1/3 cup strawberries + 1/4 cup blueberries + 1/2 cup skim milk = 4.5
s: 1/2 cup cucumbers + 1/2 cup green peppers = 0
l: slice wheat bread + 2.5 tbsp peanut butter + 1.5 tbsp jam = 8
1/3 cup oatmeal + 1/4 cup skim + 2 packets splenda = 2
1 cup carrots = 0 (lunch total = 10)
s: 1/2 cup skim + 1/2 cup water + nestle ff cocoa = 1
d: mom's "stew" and spetula = 8.5
dessert: 1 apple = 1

total: 25 (target - 20, aps - 5)

ran 4 miles today, walked 15 minutes, and did crunches. tomorrow is a scheduled off day from running, so i'm going to do my pilates dvd.

i've still got 15 flex left for today and tomorrow. but i'm done eating for today. so today i get to roll over my cheat free clippie again . and tomorrow, i will not be eating 15 flex points. i have weigh in on sat morning, and i don't want to mess with that . i know, i know, weight doesn't matter. maybe i'll eat 5 of them tomorrow. we'll see . breakfast and lunch are planned, not sure about dinner and snacks. i'll figure it out tomorrow.

nite nite wish buddies. i'll check in with everyone in the morning

 

[marsh0013]

today is my baby brother's 17th birthday, and he stopped in about an hour ago to show me his brand-y new lisence . i'm so proud of the little booger

i had a new breakfast this morning, erin's banana peanut butter oatmeal surprise! and it was so good! i made it a little differently, since i make it on the oven not in the micro, but ooh yeah, yummy breakfast! just finished up my snack of 1/2 cup of blueberries with 2 tbsp of ff cool whip. mmm. for lunch, i'm having the last of my mom's "stew".

and i know i left yesterday saying i didin't know what i'd do for dinner. but i looked through some ofthe recipes i had printed out, and found a chicken with broccoli and garlic sauce that sounds really good. 6 points, and that includes rice. so i'm gonna be cooking tonight . really looking forward to that. i'll probably have carrots as a snack this afternoon. and i'll do my pilates sometime after dinner.

tomorrow is a whole new challenge! i will be waking up early to go to the gym to get in my 3 mile run, because i have to be home in time to help get the house ready for my brother's bday party! my family is very tight, we do family parties for all the kids (i'm one of 13 grandkids). so lots of people, and lots of food! i've heard everything from chicken parm, to stuffed shells, penne vodka, and chinese takeout! yikes!

my mom is being wonderful though, and making a shrimp, broccoli, and pasta dish that she knows i will eat . my mom is so good . it's just those 3 things, along with garlic and chicken broth, and a little oil to sautee the garlic. so it's very points friendly. just have to make sure i limit myself to 1 cup of the pasta, and load up on the shrimp and broccoli.

and then birthday cake. he wants an ice cream cake with fudge and those chocolate crumbles in the middle. you know the kind, very un-points friendly . but it's ok, i'm going to have a small piece and enjoy it! i plan to dip into some flex tomorrow, but it's ok, because tomorrow is the beginning of my points week

sunday should be interesting too. not sure if i'm going to a superbowl party or anything. but sunday is my long run day (5 miles this week), so i'll be earning plenty of aps, and i'll hve the flex bank if necessary.

aaaalrighty, i gotta get away from the computer for a bit. i have lots of old documents that i need to go shred. hehe, much fun. catch ya later!

 

[LAinSEA]

and happy birthday to your lil bro too.

It is so cool that you're family is being so supportive of your fitness goals. It's too hard to do it all alone - especially with parties planned.

My DH is a huge hockey fan - and since we cover the Red Wings for our Detroit news operation, I've had to learn about it too. I actually find myself watching more now with my DH and becoming a fan too.

Have a really fun weekend!

-Laurie

 

[DoeWDW]

Marcia, it's so cool that your extended family is so close! Treasure these times together!! Enjoy that small piece of birthday cake too!

I also think you should get your teaching certificate. Generally, if you already have a college degree, there are accelerated programs to get a teaching certificate. I hope you can find something like that in your area.

Enjoy those runs this weekend at the warm gym!! It's darn cold out there!!

 

[marsh0013]

hey laurie, i'll send along the well-wishes to my brother, thanks

doe, i guess it's kinda cool that my extended family is so close...it's getting more bearable as i get older. but with 13 grandkids, that's a lot of birthdays, and most are in teh summer. when i was younger, we would go weeks upon weeks seeing each other every single weekend! it was craziness! but finally, the parents started getting smarter and combining bdays. muuuch better. i know, i know, i should be thankful for my family. and i am. just not so often . and thanks for your support about hte teaching thing too. i'm really gonna do it this time


so it's the end of another cheat free day! boo-yah! i didn't end up doing my pilates, because when i got home from work, i cooked dinner, then i got involved helping my mom with house stuff, and then she needed me to drive her to the grocery store, because brother with new lisence has mom's car overnight! so i made the executive decision that it was more important to help mom than to do pilates. i still had flex to play with, so it wasn't a big deal.

and at the grocery store, i ended up buying some stuff to make some big and filling 1 point muffins! holy man these things are large. they're stock full of fiber, and they smell really good! i'm not going to have one till tomorrow morning after i run though. they're orange cranberry, and i also have a box of blueberry to make next! if anyone is interested, it involved high fiber cereal, krusteaz ff muffin mix, and water. i think i found it on the ww boards. i'll post it if anyone wants. ooh, i'm looking forward to that muffin big time!

so here's my report for today:

b: erin's banana pb oatmeal surprise (also ate the other half of hte banana) + nestle ff plus calcium cocoa w/water = 4.5
s: 1/2 cup blueberries + 2 tbsp ff cool whip = .5
l: mom's stew + 1/2 cup broccoli + 1 oreo = 9.5
s: nestle ff plus calcium w/1 cup skim + 1 cup carrots = 2
d: chicken w/broccoli and garlic sauce w/ brown rice (ww recipe) = 6
s: 1 small wheat pita + 2 tbsp hummus + 4 slices cucumber = 2

total: 24.5 (target - 20, flex - 4.5)

finishing off the week with 10.5 flex to spare. weigh in is tomorrow morning. i got a new digital scale, so we'll see how that compares to my old scale. i'll weigh on both to check. and if the new one is different, i'll adjust my original/goal weights accordingly. should be interesting. i'm not going to take measurements, because it's only been a week. but i will be trying on those size 10s again .

i must recommend erin's oatmeal special to anyone interested. it was oh so good! oh, and that chicken broccoli garlic sauce dinner. oh yes. it was yummy! pretty filling, although, i did feel the need for the pita w/hummus and cucumber around 10pm. maybe next time, i'll make it as 3 servings of 8 points instead of 4 servings of 6 points. the leftovers are in the 6 point serving size though (individually packaged for easy access), so maybe i'll just add some more veggies when i eat those.

ok, that's a wrap for me. tomorrow i won't be around at all because of the party, and i'll probably be going out with my best friend tomorrow night. i'll be using flex points tomorrow for sure, that's what they're there for . oh but i will be sure to check in quick in teh morning to report my weigh in. gnite everybody

 

[DoeWDW]

Marcia, hope you see a number you like on that scale (those scales??? )!

Enjoy your busy day!!

 

[marsh0013]

real quick check in before i hit the gym.

ok, i'm really glad i got the new scale, caue the old one is really ahrd to read. from what i could tell, the old scale said 130.5. that's about hte same as last week. so that's cool. new scale says 132.5. so i did some quick math, and found that my original weight of 132 on the old scale is equal to 134 on the new scale. so i changed my stats.

know what's funny though? i entered my new weight fromt he new sclae on ww online, and it gave me some talk about "stick to your points", "don't worry, this is normal", yadda yadda. it won't let me go back and change previous weights, so it thinks i gained. oh well! i knwo i dind't . didn't get a chance to try on the jeans yet. i'll do that when i get in from the gym.

ok everyone, have a great day! i'll probably be back late tonight or tomorrow afternoon

 

[sharoncity]

Hi Marcia!

Hope you are enjoying a great weekend! How'd those jeans look? Pretty good I bet! Your discipline with exercise and eating are very inspiring. Keep up the good work!

I did the same thing as you with the new scale. I bought one a few weeks into my new "weigh" of life. It also read higher than my original scale. There is a way on the WW sight to change your start weight, which is what I did. You have to know how much you lost each week, because that all has to be re-recorded after they change the start weight. But I figured it was easier to have them change it than for me to have to keep refiguring everything every week. Plus, my start weight jumped up about 6 lbs, so it was saying I gained weight, instead of losing! Basically, to change your start weight, you have to email them, they get back to you, another email, and - viola! new start weight. It was done in a matter of hours for me.

Enjoy your nice WARM run this AM. And enjoy your brothers Bday party ( and ice cream cake-YUMMY!) I know what you mean about the big families. My in-laws have 15 grandchildren (including my 2) We have started having one Bday party per month for whoever falls in that month. MUCH easier on everyone's schedule!

TTFN-
Sharon

 

[DavidandDenise]

Marsh~I really enjoyed reading your journal. I read the last page and just had to go back and read the entire thing! You and I have similar goals. I'm 24, 5'7" and weigh 143. I currently wear an 8, but want to get back into my 6s. Running is also my number one choice. I also think you should go back to school--you're not going to be happy if you don't. My husband and I both teach 8th grade English and we love it. We also coach cross country and track. Just think, maybe you can coach some kids older than your students. Also, when your loans are deferred, you can pay on them, when you can, and shorten their life because you won't be paying interest. My DH and I are earning our masters right now and that's what we're doing. Your journal is inspiring and it makes me want to try on my smaller pants once a week when I weigh myself. I also loved your humor early in your journal when you said you started each journal with the same word--I did the same thing with the word 'okay' and had to make myself stop. Keep up the great work and remember we're all in this together. I look forward to reading your future posts and inspiring, positive attitude--I don't see the negative you spoke of--keep it up! I hope we can start encouraging each other and helping each other out. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

 

[marsh0013]

sharon - thanks for the tip on changing my start weight! i emailed the technical support or whatever it is, so hopefully they'll get back to me soon. the party was good (more on that below). your family sounds like an exact duplicate of mine! two peas in a pod

denise - thank you so much for your kind words of support and encouragement! you guys are all so great! i said this in my post on your journal, but i'm starting to research getting into a masters program for teaching. i know it's something that i have to do for me, because i cannot handle this work in an office type job. it drives me crazy! and i know i will enjoy working with kids so much. preference is with the little ones, but like you said, i will look into coaching the older ones as well. so many possibilities! i'm really looking forward to this new path i'm about to go down


report on the jeans: they are big in the waist area. they have been since i started trying them on, this is normal for me though, seeing as all jeans fit me this way, and my waist is not my problem area. the thigh area is still a bit tight, but i think my hips are feeling a little looser. maybe it's all that muscle i'm building in my thighs, who knows . it's okay, overall i'm happy with my progress. i feel so healthy and i love my running program. i'm even going to run 5.5 miles tomorrow...a new personal high

birthday party today went marvelously. i went to the gym early so i could come home and help out. ate a pria bar before i left my house. that works really well for me for morning running. doesn't drive my stomach crazy. i'll be eating another one tomorrow before my run. 3 mile run, 15 minute walk. then after the gym, i had one of the high fiber cran orange muffins that i made last night. oh man, we have a winner! this thing was good! i'm thrilled. 1 point! thank you very much! and really filling. came home and had my now standard post-run cup of hot cocoa made w/skim milk.

my brother had gone out to dunkin donuts and picked up a dozen donuts (because he has his license now, he has to drive for the heck of it ), and he got me my fav, vanilla frosted. he got it especially for me. so i ate it. no guilt! i knew i had planned on using flex today, so it was wonderful . i also had a cup of coffee with it. mmmm

got in a shower, then started the running around. went and picked up food, which took a while. finally got home, and found that my mom had put out the party snacks. cup of carrots, here i come . then for lunch, i had exactly what i planned (shrimp, broccoli and pasta dish). wasn't even tempted by the stuffed shells, penne vodka, and chinese food. also had my small piece of ice cream cake (dwlz says it's 5 points for 1/24 of the sheet cake, i had my 1/24 estimated, plus a couple extra bites, so i called it 6). not bad, not bad at all. ate a couple of strawberries as well.

wasn't hungry again till about 6:30, at which time i had a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter and jelly spread on it. then around 9, i realized i didn't have enough dairy today, so i heated up a cup of skim milk with a tsp of vanilla and splenda (someone on a ww board suggested this, since i don't like the taste of plain milk). surprisingly, it was good! like a very low points vanilla creme from starbucks . also had a half cup of stawberries with 2 tbsp of ff cool whip.

here's the details for the day:

s: pria bar = 2
b: muffin + hot cocoa made w/1 cup skim = 3
s: donut + coffee = 5
s: 1 cup carrots = 0
l: 3 oz shrimp + 1 cup broccoli + 1 cup pasta = 6
s: birthday cake + 1/4 cup strawberries = 6
d: 1 slice wheat + 2 tbsp peanut butter + 1 tbsp jam = 6.5
dessert: 1 cup skim + 1 tsp vanilla + splenda + 1/2 cup stawberries + 2 tbsp ff cool whip = 2

total: 30.5 (target - 20, aps - 4, flex - 6.5)

28.5 flex left for the rest of the week. i may be dipping into those tomorrow, depending on super bowl plans. i will be earning lots of aps tomorrow though. i'm getting up and running, which will earn me 6 points. then i have to come home and go to church, and after that, i'm going with my mom to ballys, because our free passes finally came from that discovery health challenge (figures, right after i give 60 bucks to a gym, a free pass comes in, oh well).

you're probably wondering why i don't just run at bally's when i'm there with my mom. well, she doesn't want to be there for very long. i figure, it'll be better to go around the gym with her and help her figure stuff out if she needs, and know that i've already got my running done. and if she wants to get on a treadmill and walk, i'll get on one next to her and walk. so i figure i'll get another ap or so, depending what we actually do at ballys.

anyway, so who knows about food tomorrow for the game. if we go out to a restaurant with a free appetizer buffet, i'll see if anything strikes my fancy. and my parents will buy me a couple drinks too. i plan to enjoy myself, use my aps and flex, and not worry about it. it's the superbowl, and i will have a good time and not feel bad . and who knows if i'll really eat a lot. maybe i'll surprise myself. we shall see!

ok, i gotta get to bed. up early again to get to the gym. i think this post was really long! if you made it through, congrats to you! catch ya later

 

[Strings]

Hey there,

You are such a good daughter. You're going to take Mom arounfd the machines and teach her proper techique. Way to look out for Mom. You are doing a fabulous job. Those jeans will fit perfectly in no time. Enjoy the game tomorrow.
Beth

 

[sharoncity]

Good Morning Marcia!

Yeah it does seem like we are two peas in a pod, huh? And changing the start weight sure is easier than refiguring everything each week.

Sounds like yesterday went very well. I love how you just go with the flow when curves are thrown at you - like the donut from brother! That was so NICE of him! I love it that you had it with no guilt, thus not making your brother feel bad. We need to learn to have food we like with no guilt, along as it is only occassionally.

About those jeans. I forgot, have they ever fit you correctly? If not, don't pin your success on them totally. As you well know, some jeans fit right, some don't. That's what drives women all over the world absolutely nuts in fitting rooms! I think you can call your program successful already. You are eating better, exercising regularly and feeling more positive. Sounds good to me! But keep taking you measurements and trying on those jeans!

Have a good time at the Superbowl tonight. Just go with the flow like usual and you will be fine.

TTFN-
Sharon

 

[septbride2002]

Good Morning Marsh! Just wanted to come and say hello again in your journal! You are doing so well! Ice Cream cake is one of my biggest downfalls. Actualy Ice Cream period is a downfall for me. I can't have it in the house at all. Good for you for making a plan and sticking with it.

~Amanda