Finished Painting

I finally finished the Painting I did for my sister's birthday. I actually refinished it. haha. The first time I did the painting it has a blue background that had a textured effect to it. The more I looked at it, the more I decided that it wasnt what I was going for. I wanted a richer background with more detail. Something that would make the mask stand out on it. I think I got what I wanted this time around. I am going to see her tomorrow and I can't wait to give it to her.

On the Up and Up

Things are going very well here. I am working like crazy. I have been going out after work and walking/jogging. It has been really hot but I still go. That is very draining. I am trying to get into a gym, I just wish that they didnt want you to sign a contract. That kills me. Oh well. we will see what happens.

I have finished my application for the Peace Corps. I am just waiting to hear about an interview to go over my application and then get the rest of everything rolling, such as my medical and dental clearance. It is going to be a tedious process... it already has been... but I think it will be totally worth it in the end. I have to requested any specific placements, I am happy to go wherever. So we will see what happens.

Weight Watchers is still going well. I had weigh-in a day early yesterday because I am working today. I lost another 2.2 pounds... so I think that puts me at 11.4 pounds lost. :) That is excellent.

My very good friend has a book signing today. I am sad that I have to work and will be unable to attend. He did sign my book for me yesterday though. I started reading it and was surprised at how interesting it is. It is the Weiser's Field Guide to Vampires by J.M. Dixon. It takes you back and goes through everything, myths, legends, supposed encounters. The idea of vampires from different Regions and Cultures. I found that I started reading and couldn't put it down. It is very well written and I found myself wishing that my books from college were that informative and entertaining. If you have any interest in the idea of vampires and how it came about then I really do suggest you take a glance.

Weight Watchers is Working

So I have lost a total of 9 pounds. That is with 4 weeks of sticking to the program with very good days and days that didn't go quite so well. I am very excited with the results. :)

I have been slacking in my walking, but I am going to get back to it. I have decided that I am not going to let outside forces affect my ability to take care of myself, I will just be a lot more cautious than I was before.

My whole family is really supporting me on this whole Weight Watchers thing. They think it is great and the best thing for me to do at this point in my life. I have to agree with them. My grandmother just told me that she has taken it upon herself to put a dollar in an envelope for me for every pound that I drop. haha. She is awesome. Though I have to wonder if that means she will take money away if I gain.... Best to not think about that. :)

So on another note... I have completed my application to the peace corps and have submitted it. I am totally excited about it. I am really hoping that I get selected to go. It would be an amazing adventure. So it is now a waiting game, to see first if I get an interview, and second if I get selected. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I did not specify a region I would like to be in, so I have no idea if I get places whereabout it will be... It kind of makes it that much more exciting.

And... I got my hair done! I went for color. I got blond and red/copper put in my hair yesterday. I love it! So new hair, 9 pounds down. I am ready to start a new week that will be fantastic!

Moving More

If you are like me.... the idea of simply going out and walking doesn't sounds very appealing. I bring my iPod loaded up with my favorite songs to listen to while I drive to work and I start my walk. Halfway through I am ready to stop. I am bored, hot, and just plain done. Getting me go out walking has always been a chore. I stop wanting to go. I figure... who will know if I really don't go out today????

I found a way to change all of that for me... and I found a way to keep my walks entertaining.

First.... I got new Nike+ shoes and a Nike+kit. If you have not seen this thing you should check it out. It is a flat chip that goes into your sneakers and it counts how far you walk,calories burned, average pace, etc. It sync with your iPod so you can listen to your music while you run or walk and get spoken updates on your progress while you go. The best thing about the whole thing is that you can sync your runs/walks to Nike+ online. When you do that you get to create a Mini. This is an avatar that represents your running persona. When you do not exercise your mini is bored. When you do exercise your mini is full of energy and fun to watch. This has really motivated me to keep my mini happy.... you can also link your mini and progress onto your twitter account or facebook page. This has helped me also because I don't want people to think I am lazy. lol. (The Pic is of my Nike+ Mini... Isn't she CUTE!!!!)

Next...

Since I have to be to work at 5:30am and it takes me 30 minutes to get to work... I get up pretty early and by the time I get home at 5:00pm I am worn out. I don't feel like going out and walking or anything else for that matter... So I have been getting up earlier. It works out great because I gets me pumped up for the day and by the time my high wears off I am driving home anyways. PERFECT. But to help get my adrenaline rushing I decided to change the types of songs on my workout playlist on my iPod. I have a couple of everyday songs that I love, but then the rest of silly and fun songs that make me laugh and just want to up and dance around the room like a crazy person. And that I what I do when I walk.... I dance too. (It is 3:00am... there is no one awake to see my foolishness). I got this idea while at a Weight Watchers Meeting... the topic of discussion was how we needed to Move More... I thought of my nieces and how they dance to everything. They love music and don't care who the dance in front of. I thought... wouldn't it be great to have that much energy again. So I decided to give it s shot. I chose a 'Power Song' that I play towards the end of my workout when I am getting tired and bored.... It is 'I think we're alone now' by Tiffany. That song comes on and I can't help it... I am skipping down the street, jumping, shuffling my feet, pumping my arms in the air, turning in circles, etc. It may sound dumb or corny, but it really gives me that push to go a little bit longer on my walk, get the sweat flowing, and give me an adrenaline rush that lasts throughout the entire day. I don't care how stupid I look dancing in the middle of my walk outside... It is worth it to me. After that is done, I pick a favorite slow song and walk for another 5 minutes to cool down before I go inside.

(to put it into perspective...when I started walking it was all I could do to make myself stay out for 15 minutes before growing tired and bored.... since I started adding the dancing to my routine I have increased to about an hour routine). Something must be working.

I have weigh-in tomorrow so we will see how this holds up on the weight loss front.

Trying Something New

So I have come to find out the Raw Vegan life jus isnt for me at this point in time... I might come back to it later on down the road after I get myself under control. BUT that does not mean that I am not going to strive to get healthier. I went off completely of my raw vegan diet. I weighed in almost two weeks ago at 236.4 pounds. EEEEKKKK!!!!
So yeah... No good. But I have joined weight watchers.... I was very reluctant to join at first. I always saw it as something that old people did. lol. I remember my grandmother doing it with her church friends. hahaha. But my friends and family all thought that it was a great idea so I bit the bullet and went to a meeting to see if I could stand it. I had a great time, and I was very happy to see such a huge range of ages and sizes there. It made me feel a little more at ease. So meeting one 236.4 pounds. I got my point book and heard some great ideas and then went off to try one week on my own. I strayed a bit but for the most part I was right on point with my allowed points and everything. They want you to hit your point goal exactly each day. I felt like I was eating soooo much, and therefore even contemplated skipping meeting the next week. I was sure that I had gained weight. lol. But I went and SURPRISE! I lost 3.4 pounds. I am now at 233 pounds and am very anxious to see what weigh-in on Saturday is going to yield. (I took the batteries out of my home scale due to my obsession with stepping on the scale).
This week my goal is to make weight watchers recipes and see how that goes (food photos to come!) and move more. Overall I am feeling fantastic.

I will post about those things in the next couple of days.

(oh still operating with a camera phone for the time being. I swear I will get a real digital camera soon. Any suggestions???)