September Re-cap

I started off this month with so much energy and motivation.  Sadly with so much work stress that quickly ended, and I didn't do no where near as well as I would have liked.  But since I made a promise to check back in with my weight/measurement updates, here goes nothing.

Weight (as of Sept 26th--WW official WI day): 252--down 1 lb for September
Bust: 44.5 in
Waist: 40.75 in
Hips: 54 in
Thigh: 30.75 in
Arm: 16.5 in

I totally know what I need to work on, and October will be better.

Since the weather is cooler, I'm going to start going walking at least three days a week before work and do DVD's in the evenings.  I'm going to give 30DS a real try for the month of October, and hopefully I'll see some results both on the scale and in some inches lost.  And I'll check back in the beginning of November.

Goals for October
1. Workout at least 5 days a week.  This will include walking before work at least 3 days a week and DVD workouts in the evenings--some days will include both.
2. No soda at all.  Self explanatory.
3. Concentrate on eating whole, nutritious foods.  I'm going to limit prepackaged and processed crap.
4. Make a real effort to plan snacks and lunches.  Eating wise, I'm usually worse at work.  Because I get bored sitting at my desk and I snack more than I should.  I'm gonna work on it.

The big test will be the mini vacation with boyfriend towards the end of the month (I'm soooo excited about it)!!

You're Kidding Me, Right?

So, I'm at this topic again...

I recieved a check for mileage/gas when I had to go to the other office last Monday.  It bounced.  Big surprise there!  This is getting old, very fast.  At least the actual paycheck didn't bounce...but it did come out of the same account, so it was close! 

Retail/waiting tables/anything is looking better and better....

Budgeting

So over the last year or so, I've managed to rack up a decent credit card balance between two cards.  At the beginning of September it was about a total of $2,400 (both were about $1,200 each).

I made a promise to myself that I'd get them paid off asap (one by November-ish, and the second by tax time--and I do my taxes in February). 

Just in the month of September, I paid $500 on one of them, or 41.667% on that card, and 20.833% of my total balance.  The new total is about $735. My goal is to pay $300 on it in October (hopefully more, but with the pigeon forge trip I want to have plenty of cash, so I DON'T use a credit card), and pay the remainder in November, which would put me at meeting the first goal!  Then I can put everything I'm paying on this one, and add it to what I'm paying on the other one (small monthly amounts right now) and get the second one paid off hopefully by the end of January.

I want to be revolving debt free within the next 4 or so months.  Then that will leave car payment (which I'll start paying extra on) and my student loans.  Then regular bills, including adding more to savings. 

Figuring this stuff up today made me extremely happy and proud of myself!

Back on Track

I got absolutely no structured work out in this weekend, but that's ok.  I'm not going to beat myself up about it.

Friday, I ended up doing some things around the house, so I was moving and not just sitting and watching TV all evening.  I made some very yummy and p+ friendly Pumpkin Spice Cookies that everyone loved.  And I took about half of the batch to the boyfriend when I saw him Saturday.  Better not to have them in the house, even if 1 pretty large cookie was only 3 pp. 

Saturday I spend the morning with my grandparents. We went to the Lord's Acre Sale, and I got some Apple Butter--seriously good stuff!  We then went to the church we use to go to for their Fall Festival.  It was great seeing some familiar faces!  I need to start visiting them more often!  I ended up getting some Zucchini Bread at the church, and it was yummy!

I spent the rest of Saturday with Clayton. We went to a truck pull, my first, and I had a freaking blast. We ended up walking around and standing quite a bit, so I still moved around some.  And I did have a plain hotdog, but that was it (well and some water too). 

This weekend completely threw off my sleep schedule, and if you know me, I get grumpy when I don't get enough sleep.  Ended up not going to bed until about 1 Sunday morning and sleeping until about 10. Then it was close to midnight before I went to bed last night, but I was up at 6. So tonight will probably be a very early night.

This week is the last week in the September Fitness Challenge that one of my good friends put together through facebook.  So Friday, I'll post an update to this thread with my weight and measurements.  Not sure if there will be a huge difference, but that's ok too.   As of today (my WI day for WW) I'm down 1 lbs since September 1st. At least it is a loss and not a gain, like the last few months have been. 

October will be much better.  Working out is starting to feel like something I want to do, instead of hating it.  That is progress in my eyes.

Jillian--you + me + 30DS will meet after work.  Be ready!

Take that 30DS!

For the first time since I've owned the 30 Day Shred, I have successfully completed it two days in a row!  And I feel great.  A little sore, but great! 

Tonight I will do day three, and rest on Saturday, since I won't be home anyway.  But I'm sure I'll get some kind of activity in this weekend.  And Sunday, pending what time I get home, I'll try to do day 4. If not, then I'll pick back up on Monday. 

I'm on a roll, and I don't plan on stopping!

Oh, and happy first day of fall!  It is totally my favorite time of year!

Caffine

I need some! I'm so sleepy all of a sudden, to the point I literally just nodded off for about 10 minutes in my office. Oops!  Off to go get something with caffine in it!

Endurance

Mine is increasing!!

A few months ago, I attempted to complete Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.  On day one of level one, I failed miserably.  I took multiple breaks--Those jumping jacks killed me!  So, in great Heather fashion, I quit and moved on to other DVD's.  Lately I've been doing the Biggest Loser Cardio Max Weight Loss with Bob (I big puffy heart Bob Harper). 

So last night I decided to try Jillian again.  And, I completed it, with no breaks.  I owned those jumping jacks! I was so happy when I realized that I was on the last circuit and I was still going strong.  So I'm going to keep going!  I'm going to attempt it for the 30 days (with some rest days built in) and hopefully see some difference in inches and pounds.

A Good Day

I'm in a much better mood than I was in a couple days ago!

I got the cash for my check and the fees associated yesterday as promised. 

One reason my job isn't so fun (actually the main reason) is the other staff person in the office.  She complains constantly about how she hates her job.  She doesn't do things accurately or consistently, which puts more on me, which in turns stresses me out even more. 

So yesterday, she calls in (knowing we have to go to the other office as some people are coming).  But she still calls in--said it was a family emergency to our boss, but this morning she just told me "I had a lot going on". So whatever.

But it was actually a good day for her to call in, because they have been discussing staffing changes, that pertain to her. I hate to see anyone lose their job in this market, but something has to change for me to stay here, and I don't think they want to lose me based on the conversations yesterday.

I was finally asked where I see my future/position going. About time I get to give my input! I was completely honest, and I really don't se myself in the advisor role that I once did.  I like the back office, getting stuff done work that I'm doing now.  So will I still need to be licensed? No idea, but I should probably find out.

I left yesterday feeling happy. Happier than I've felt in about a year, when it comes to work.  I really do love what I do, it's just the people person that gives me so much stress.  But I feel better and more optimistic about this job, more than I have ever, I think.

Hmm

I'm not sure if having a weekend to sit and think about this whole check/job thing was a great thing.  The more I think about it, the more pissed I become. 

If I receive any shit tomorrow from him, I'm at the point where I am in the mindset to quit.  If he tries to give me some BS about his accounts being fine and it being my banks fault (which he tried on Friday), I have printed out from his accounts with our firm, that shows the account had no cash on Friday when the check was attempted to be cashed.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll wake up a little more optimistic than I have been all weekend.  I'm just so over this entire situation....

And I was right

Check number two bounced. I'm so over this whole job and situation. 

So I send bossman an email, basically saying I need this fixed asap.  And that I wasn't going to go to the other office to work Monday (some kind of training, but the other office is almost 2 hours away...)

He responds back that his accounts were fine (both bounced for insuffiiecnt funds) and that if I chose not to go to the other office, it was my choice, but to remember that the consequences were also my doing.  So I take that as a threat to fire me. DON'T THREATEN ME. It isn't my fault that you can't write a good check if your life depended on it.  So close to saying eff you and packing up my office on Monday morning.  Also tempted to going to get a temp job at a grocery store or something.  At least then I would know I'd get a paycheck, and it wouldn't bounce.

I've applied for about 5 jobs today, that included extending my job span to where I'd be driving about an hour and a half...but at this point if the salary was good enough, it'd be worth it to get out of the hell hole I currently am in....

Part-Time Job?

I'm thinking of getting one, just for a few days a week in the evenings/nights.  Mainly because now that I have to worry about my paycheck bouncing, at least if I had some money I'd be able to go to the store and buy groceries and not have my card declined, like it was on Monday....

Ignore me today, I'm in a mood.

An update...

To the paycheck fiasco. 

Boss left me a check on my desk last night (I called him to let him know it bounced while he was still at the office) out of his personal account.  What he doesn't realize is that since he wrote it out of his account with our firm (I work in financial planning), I can see all client accounts, including his.  So this morning I check it....zero cash balance (everything is invested).  He has overdraft protection, but he's used up all of it but about $400, which won't cover my check.  But since I used savings/mom gave me a little to cover the bills I already had scheduled that came out last night, I went ahead and deposited it.  I'm 90% sure it will bounce too.  I'm beyond pissed.  And if it does bounce, he will wish he'd never had the pleasure of meeting me.  He will see a side of Heather that only a couple people have ever seen before.  Glad I don't have a doctors appointment anytime soon, because I'm sure my blood pressure is out of the roof!

I'm getting desperate

For a new job that is.  I've been looking for a new job for about a year now.  I've only gotten a handful of interviews, and obviously, no new job.  ))economy((

Now to add to my list of reasons for needing a new job....

My paycheck bounced.  I mean really??  I work for a financial advisor that can't manage his own finances.  I already had bills scheduled to go out, including my student loan (and I don't think writing bad checks to the government would be very good).  So I had to scramble last night to transfer money from my savings to cover the debits that were already pending on my account, so I wouldn't be included in the group of people that writes bad checks (although all mine are paid online, and not by a paper check).

I'm furious.  All I know is that he better have money in my hand by 5 pm today, or I'm liable to snap.

And

workout yesterday...check! Not a great one as my back has been bothering me this week. And it made sleeping almost impossible yesterday. sitting/laying/standing all are painful. Hopefully it will start feeling better on its own.

Thankfully today is my Friday.  Not sure how much more I could take this week. I just feel all blah, and just want to curl up with a book somewhere.  The lack of sunshine has probably done this to me. 

I will

work out tonight. And I will come back and report here either tonight or in the morning that I did or didn't.  And if I don't you all have my permission to virtually bitchslap me.  But I will do it!!

My lunch was awesome today :)
Grilled Chicken and steamed veggies--broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots. 

Mom is out of surgery. She had two ruptured discs in her neck removed that had trapped a nerve.  Over the last couple months she's slowly lost some strength of her right arm, so hopefully the nerve wasn't permanently damaged and she'll get some, if not all, of it back.

This workday needs to hurry up!  It is dragging so bad. Probably doesn't help that tomorrow is my Friday...

A Difference

Since my multiple breakdowns last week, I've seen a difference. A real difference. 

• I'm paying attention to if I'm really hungry or not.
• I'm paying attention to the GHG's.
• I've actually gotten an adequate amount of water in, partial thanks given to the bladder infection I had.
• I've actually planned out meals.
• Yesterday was mom's birthday.  I made her a carrot cake (sheet cake, not layered) and I pre-cut it into 24 peices, instead of the normal 12 or 16 I usually do.  I did however, get some remarks from my dad about how small they were.  Then eat two.<<--that's what I told him.  Having small peices helps me, because I know I'm gonna want some, and 1/24th of the cake is plenty to satisfy my craving for a peice of cake!

And I was down 2.8 this week. 

The best time of the year is here!!

Football season!  More importantly, College football!!!  That is definitely how I plan on spending tomorrow!

Breakdown

I had a complete breakdown on the boy last night.  He now knows why I feel how I do about my weight.  Well at least how I explained it to the best of my abilities.  I've learned it is so hard to really explain things when the other person has never been there.  Like my parents. Sure they are supportive, but they don't really know what I've went through emotionally to get where I am in my WLJ, because they've never had to worry about their weights.  Neither has the boyfriend.  Up until last night he was always like, "you're beautiful, you don't need to change anything..." blah blah blah.  But I think he is starting to understand my side of things.  And he said he would always be supportive of me and love me no matter what. 

With all of these breakdowns in the last week, I feel free. It's hard to put into words, but I'm sure some of you can relate.  I know that this time I'm in the right place mentally and emotionally to get through this. 

Accountability

For some accountability for the month of September, I'm posting everything here, right now.  It's something that I've never done.  I've posted what I've lost and gained, but never actual, current numbers.  I used to be afraid to do it.  But I'm not anymore. I've finally accepted where I am today, and I'm ok with it in the sense I'm ready for change.  I'm better to improve my health and life.

So, here it goes:

Weight, as of today: 253
Measurements, as of today
Waist: 38 inches
Hips: 52.5 inches
Bust: 44.5 inches
Arms (fairly symmetrical on both sides): 16 inches
Thighs (fairly symmetrical): 30.5

So there it is.  On September 30th, I will put my current weight (even though it isn't, nor is my starting weight listed here my official WW WI days) and measurements for some reflection and accountability.  I will rock this month!

To get there I'm vowing to workout 4 times a week at least.  Continue to eat better and cleaner and track everything.  And be well on my way to my current weight goal of 5%.

30 Day Fitness Challenge

So, I've decided to partake in a FB challenge created by one of my friends.  I need the accountability and push to actually work out, although I have been doing much better lately. I do believe that my aha moment and breakdown I had over the weekend really was a real aha moment and turning point for me.  Hopefully I'm right.  We'll see.  I'm ready to tackle this!