Up, Up and Away

We're going to the International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico this year September 29th-October 3rd!

I wanted to book our hotel room as far in advance as possible because I have no doubt this is a huge attraction for the city. It will be a 12.5 hour drive each way (709 miles). We are driving Thursday and Monday. We're going to spend Friday and Sunday sight-seeing the area and the city. Saturday morning we will be at the balloon festival. I'm going to bring lots of batteries for my camera!

Grumble Grumble

I just received a letter in the mail from a company that I was trying to get a life insurance policy through. They decided not to insure me because of (my less than one year) history of anxiety, labwork, and my medical file from my PCM. I hardly think my managed anxiety is going to be the death of me within the next 20 years. As for my medical file, in October 2009 when I went in for a general physical, the doctor's office called me back a few days later to tell me that some count in my liver was too high. I was told not to drink alcohol, which I rarely do, and not to take Tylenol for pain relief. Next time I went in, bloodwork came out fine. Marshall is going to help me figure out who I need to call to get the specifics. If there is something else that is obviously more serious, creating cause for this rejection, I would like to know what it is.

Grumble, grumble.

Weekend Away

We're currently at Marshall's parents' house for the weekend, the first away from our house since Thanksgiving. So far it is very relaxing (just what I needed). We're going to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. No sangria for me. We'll be home tomorrow afternoon.

It is difficult for me to be idle. I'm always trying to plan something, and right now I feel like I have nothing to plan. This is good practice for me to stop and smell the roses.

Before the Dawn

This week my WW goal has been to exercise more because I know that activity can make gradual changes and have dramatic results. Monday night I did a 50 minute Pilates DVD. Afterwards Marshall was my personal trainer, and I did 25 minutes of strength training. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings I have gone for a walk from 6:00-6:45am. Then I shower, and get ready for work. I'm going out again tomorrow too. I'm going to try to walk every morning Monday through Friday. I like the alone time and being able to just focus on myself. This also means that I need to be going to bed earlier too, which is a plus. I'm really happy. :D

The Scheme Behind the Smile

I'm trying to plump up the production manager at work. The End.

Just kidding. Here's the full story. :)
In January, 16 people at my work started a weight loss contest to see who could lose the most percentage of body weight by April 4th. Each contestant put $25 in the pot, and winner takes all. The production manager is a guy who definitely knows how to exercise and lose weight. It just so happens that this past Monday was his birthday. A week prior I came up with a great scheme!

Sunday night I went to The Cheesecake Factory and chose this tall cheesecake with alternating layers of Reese's peanut butter cups, cheesecake and fudge cake. It was breath-taking to say the least. I took it home and put it in the fridge. Before going to bed I brought out my glass cake stand with the dome top and a small light blue plate that would fit inside.

Monday morning I arrived at work at 7am, well before Chris gets there around 8am, so I could set up my display. He walks into his office and sees this cheesecake on the plate inside the cake display, which had curled ribbon around the handle at the top. Braced against this marvel is a birthday card that everyone had signed the previous Friday.

Did I want Chris to have a good birthday at work? Of course. Did I want to help draw some extra attention his way on his special day? Of course. Did I want to trap him into not being able to resist eating hundreds of calories of cheesecake, knowing that he would probably be going out to dinner that night with his family and have cake and ice cream too? Of course!!! He managed to eat half of it (which was still about 500 calories), and offered the rest to Mario, the evening supervisor who loves any dessert that is brought in. Other than Chris eating it all and complaining the next day that his pants were a little tighter, this was the best result I could get. I consider it a success! *scheming giggle

Breakfast--yum yum

Hi. Meet my breakfast! It's a two egg omelete with 1 oz of sliced deli ham with one slice of pesto pepper jack cheese, topped with fresh pico de gallo that I made. It is very filling, and when accompanied by a sliced up green apple, well, my morning always gets off to a good start.

Since joining Weight Watchers, I have been focusing on eating small portions of food that are more filling. It's nice to eat a little 2 PointsPlus fiber bar, but you'll be hungry shortly there after. This breakfast has really helped me stay fuller for longer where I only have to bring one snack to work (besides my lunch).

I'm trying new recipes from the WW website; both Marshall and I really like them. Tonight I'm doing a turkey and vegetable chili that is going to last us the rest of the weekend. If you're not in need of a plan like I do with WW, it is still a good habit to discover what foods really make you feel satisfied, which ones taste good but leave you wanting more, and those that do not benefit your body at all. I have no doubt that your body will respond well with your new choices.

Update on 101/1001

Here's how what I've been accomplishing regarding my 101/1001 list.

1. Have donated food to the local food bank for 6 months in a row!

20. I did a baby Zumba class called Cardio Dance Party for 6 weeks straight. I was so close to making it 8 weeks to reach my goal. I stopped because I tried out the 1 hour class right before it called Camp24, which is cardio and strength training. I'm burning calories and toning my muscles, which is better for my body than just cardio. The Cardio Dance Party class has gotten really popular; there seems to be little room in there now. I did really well while I was doing it. It was a challenage; it kicked my butt and I liked it. I will consider this task accomplished when I can do both a Camp24 and Cardio Dance Party class back to back on Monday nights. Sound like a good compromise?

22. Holy smokes! I couldn't believe it. I did a mile on the eliptical Sunday morning at the gym in 6:55! My goal was to reach 7:30, this was really impressive to me. Now let me see myself do it on the treadmill. :)

40. I found a delicious recipe called Antipasti Chicken that involves artichokes. I've also included them on pizza and in quiche. Marshall loves them all!

42. I've lowered my BMI by 1.9 points since December 17th! I've accomplished this by eatting better, exercising and doing Weight Watchers. By mid-April I hope to have it down a total of 4.3 points.

50. I'm planning a trip for my husband, sister, nephew and myself (Matt may or may not be able to make it) to go to my parents' house in Salem, Oregon in mid-August. Going in November and around the holidays would just be insane financially and with being able to leave work. While we are at our parents' house, Mom is going to cook a Thanksgiving meal (her favorite to do). When this happens, I'm marking this task as complete!

97. I changed this one to "Participate in a 5K." I'm thinking of doing the Couch to 5K challenage and be ready for Austin's Bun Run on May 1st.