Simply Filling...

So I joined WW in May of 2008. I prepared myself for it. I told myself in the fall of 2007 that I had to do something. I was working out at least 4-5 times a week and my weight was staying the same. I have to prepare myself for life changes, and I knew that WW would be quite a change at first. Well? It worked out great! I have the summers off (oh, the perks of being a teacher) so I knew I'd be able to concentrate on making WW a part of my life while making sure I kept up my workout routine. Everything was great until about October of last year. Then my progress started to slow. I was still losing, but it was those tiny -0.2 or -0.4 amounts. I'm patient, but not that patient. I kept up with my points counting and working out and finally decided to try something different - to see if I could trick my body into losing again.

Last week I tried working out a lot more. Nope. Stayed the same.

This week? I switched to the simply filling technique. The results? Well, they're not official yet - I weigh in on Monday (my birthday, too, by the way) and I know I'm going to be excited. I've weighed myself periodically throughout the week and as of today I'm down at least 2 pounds. The last time I had a loss that big was in November of 2008. Seriously, I'm super excited. And it wasn't too bad. I mean, I'm eating a TON more fruits and veggies.

I'm thinking about staying on the simply filling foods technique until I reach goal. I'm SO close! I was thinking I could do it by May, but if it goes like this week has, I'll be there by the end of March! Yay! Then I'll get my present to myself - a massage. I've never had one, and I figured, why not? I deserve it after losing 45 pounds. I am thinking that I'm going to keep my personal goal of at least 5 pounds less than my WW goal, though. I know my body can do it, and I know I can do it. I also think I'd be more satisfied if I tried.

In other news, my graduate class is pretty good so far. Right now I'm supposed to be at least half way through War & Peace, lemme tell you, not the easiest book to get through. It's good, it just takes awhile to read.

If you have the time (and the inclination) you should also help to support my local animal shelter. If you decide to take your time to help out, my shelter's name is the Central Missouri Humane Society. We're currently in 4th place and we (ALL of us - especially the animals) appreciate anything and everything you could do to help. Zootoo is a pretty darn cool site, so if you're an animal lover/owner anyway, I know you could get something out of it. Next post will definitely include some adorable animal photos.

A Hero of Our Time

Title: A Hero of Our Time
Author: Mikhail Lermontov
Rating: 3 outta 5 stars
Review: This book is similar to Eugene Onegin in so many ways...and yet, I didn't like it near as much. I always find it hard to like a book when I don't like the narrator, and Pechorin was hard to like. He is a shallow, bored, well, jerk. His goal in life is to upset the balance in other people's lives. I mean, come on, who wants to be around that?

That said, it was easier to read than War & Peace, which I'm currently stumbling through.

Breaking a plateau

Here's my plan to finally break through this dang plateau I've been stuck on for the past oh....forever.

1. Stay within my points. Track ahead of time so I know where I stand.

2. Exercise like a madwoman:

• Thursday: Running - 30 minutes, Spinning - 45 minutes, 30 day Shred DVD - 20 minutes
• Friday: Running - 30 minutes, 30 day Shred (back to back) - 40 minutes
• Saturday: Running - 30 minutes, 30 day Shred - 40 minutes
• Sunday: Running - 30 minutes, 30 day Shred - 40 minutes

3. Be optimistic? :) haha, if only that's all it took.

In other news? It's the annual J-Family Women's Retreat this weekend and we're supposed to come with the following: a book to recommend, music to recommend, a movie to recommend, and supplies for the craft we'll be making (a dish towel purse??) on Saturday. I'm also bringing the Shred DVD for our workout session on Saturday.

During the "exercise" session a couple years ago. Hey, we have fun.

My family is really close. We started having this "Women's Retreat" a few years ago as a way for everyone to get together - well, all the women anyway - and just hang out for awhile. It's nice because usually those relatives who live out of state manage to come in and we have fun just being with each other. There's always a book review session - "What book have you read in the last year that you just have to tell us about?", then there's the movie review - everyone just shares what they loved (mine was Juno last year). The music thing is new, I'm still thinking on that one. But then we do a few crafts led by different members of the family, exercise a little, then go to Church Sunday morning and afterwards hit up the local DQ. I'm so glad that my family is close (both physically and emotionally). We're all a little different, but we enjoy our differentness. It's nice.

Currently Reading: War and Peace by: Leo Tolstoy

A couple ways to tell you're getting old...

1. You enjoy vacuuming. "That rug needed it!"
2. You find yourself looking for recipes to try. And you don't cook.
3. A big night out means a trip to the grocery store and Applebees.
4. Did I mention I'm cooking?

What I'm cooking this week:

• Diet coke bread. Yes, that's right. Yeast, Diet Coke and Flour. I'll let you know how it turns out.
• Pita Pizza. Yum.
• Salsa (also known as Taco) Soup. Seriously delicious.
• Zesty Chicken and Rice Chili. Yay! I've been wanting to try this one out for awhile!

Pictures to follow? :) Oh yes, my Valentines day was super exciting. I've always said that E and I are pretty boring. But we don't mind. At least we're boring together.

Currently Reading: War & Peace (need I say more?)

A Doggy Update

Oh yeah, that's right. My parents got a new puppy (well, he's really about 2 years old, but he's so darn cute I'm gonna call him a puppy!)!! Yay! I love animals.

Now, I might be so infatuated because I know that I will shortly be able to have my own puppy, but either way, I'm somewhat of an animal freak.

Meet Hank.

Hanks on the left (Bear is on the right).

And again...

Ain't he cute? Seriously though, he looks so eerily similar to our beloved beagle Sneaker who died last summer. *tear*

By the way, for any English teachers (or majors) out there. Here's a question. The English department and I were discussing the other day the rule about capitalization and the names of breeds. Apparently the rule is that you don't capitalize a dog's breed unless it's like "German Shepard." What's with that? It seems like they're proper nouns, right? I mean, to be a beagle you have to have certain traits...right? And, if that's true does it mean you don't capitalize the different breeds of horses? Cats? Who made up this rule?

I am now stepping away from the nerd podium.

I actually got some grading done tonight (yay me!). Although, I still have 22 (hopefully - if they all turned them in) 4-5 page research papers on historical figures. I'm not gonna stress on that one though. I've got time...right?

In other news. Anyone got advice for breaking a slow weight-loss cycle? I'm exactly (exactly!) where I was a month ago. I mysteriously had a 2ish pound weight gain a couple weeks ago. I say mysteriously because I really didn't do anything differently. At all. I worked out the same, I ate the same. It wasn't TOM. What gives? So I've lost that wonderful 2ish pound gain, but I'm kinda frustrated. I'm SOOO close. Any advice?

Currently Reading: A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov

Inkdeath

Title: Inkdeath
Author: Cornelia Funke
Rating: 4 outta 5 stars
Review: I really enjoyed this series, it's very original.

In this book, the Bluejay has to decide to stay and fight the way the Inkworld is turning, or to return to the safety of his "home" with his wife and child.

SPOILER: Dustfinger does return, and I'm so glad he did.

I really like Meggie's relationship with...oh, I forgot his name. Her crush on Farid really seemed a little dramatic to me.

I definitely recommend reading all three of these books, it's a series that doesn't disappoint.

Eugene Onegin

Title: Eugene Onegin
Author: Alexander Pushkin
Rating: 4 outta 5 stars
Review: Considering this was a "I had to read it" book, I really liked it. Sadly, what did I like about it most? It rhymed - which is always fun, and the story was intriguing.

Onegin is your typical spoiled, shallow guy. He's bored with life and finds it hard to get interested in anything or anyone. Tatyana is a romantic. She's intelligent, well-read, and doesn't easily fall for the drama that those around her incessantly whisper/giggle about. When Tatyana sees Onegin, it's love at first sight. She writes him a letter sharing her feelings and is....rejected!

To find out what happens later with Onegin and Tatyana, read for yourself!

"What's all this about a bomb threat?!"

Yes, that's right. The middle school of my school district received a bomb threat Friday. Actually, they received the call Thursday night. That's right. The extremely intelligent prankster left a bomb threat VOICE-MAIL! Seriously. Really?

So, here's how school went on Friday.

1. It was a bea-utiful day. About 68 degrees. Beautiful. What's that mean? Crazy kids!
2. Courtwarming, which means we were running a different schedule, shortened classes with a lot of student anticipation/excitement for the pep rally.
3. Oh, did I mention a bomb threat? This meant the entire middle school students/staff had to come up to the high school.

The middle schoolers took the threat wonderfully. They were very well behaved, no one freaked out. It was nice.

The high schoolers? Drama! First of all, the administration didn't really tell any of the teachers what was going on - so we didn't know what to tell the kids when they yelled out stuff like, "What's with this bomb threat?!" in the middle of class. I mean, really. That was my biggest complaint. You have to let your teachers know what's going on so they can handle the madness and calm fears. Oh, and not appear like they're bumbling idiots or just lying to cover things up.

All in all, it was a crazy day. But...considering what went on, it turned out rather well.

Currently Reading: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone by J.K. Rowling (LOVE these books!)
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lemontov

25 random things...

For lack of anything else...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 5 people to tag. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I should be grading (but you probably know that).

2. I've learned recently that I actually like running.

3. Cereal is one of my favorite foods.

4. I love singing.

5. The Office wouldn't be the same without Dwight.

6. I have some of the best co-workers.

7. I'm hoping to be a homeowner within the next six months...

8. And a dog owner :)

9. So far, I'm kicking my new year's resolution's butt (not biting my fingernails).

10. My family (all of them) are the best. They're always there, they're goof-balls, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

11. If I watch Mizzou play sports, they almost always win. Or at least that's my argument to get out of watching them play.

12. The Shawshank Redemption is a must see. My favorite.

13. I really do wish Hogwarts were real. Seriously. How cool?

14. I almost always have a hard time saying "No," when people ask me to do something.

15. I used to have a teenage obsession over the Backstreet Boys.

16. If I could find a job where I could get paid to read, I would be in heaven.

17. I only have 5-10 (can't decide) more to go, and I'm so psyched about that.

18. I enjoy the outcome (but sometimes hate the process) when it comes to crafts.

19. If I could live without shoes during the summer, I would.

20. I'd like to live somewhere warmer. If only for a few years.

21. I love my freckles. I hope they stay.

22. I wish I could speak multiple languages. I'd love to teach my kids (or have someone else teach them).

23. I have a very strong sense of self-discipline. If I want to do something, I will do it. But, I have to want it.

24. I have no idea what I would be if I weren't a teacher. I can't imagine.

25. I wish I were better at keeping in touch with old friends.

So, I'm tagging Ashlee, Can I Just Say..., Laura, and Lisa Marie.

Help the....

Central Missouri Humane Society.

I'm a volunteer for the Central Missouri Humane Society, and if anyone needs to win a shelter makeover, it's them. They've recently had to squeeze their hours because of budget restrictions, the shelter was partially flooded for a few days this fall, it's just sad. These poor animals (this is where I got my amazing buddy Simon) have to live in these conditions because they can't afford any better.

So, if you feel like helping out and happen to have an animal visit www.zootoo.com and sign up (please select CMHS as your shelter) and help us reach the top 20! I'd appreciate it. Then I can see what animals you have, too! :)