Weak - No! - Week Ahead

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Wow, after finishing my paper and turning it in, I really felt like a wet noodle, a deflated balloon, an old dish rag, (insert further similes here). I didn't get much sleep last week and then all the tension that had built up over the three weeks of the assignment dissipated after I dropped off the envelope at the post office - I'm not just physically but also emotionally drained.

Feeling better today. Sundays are about rest and restoration and that's what I did. In fact, the sermon was on the verse in Matthew 11:29 that talks about "come unto me and you shall find rest." It was a good message, but I thought if the preacher said "rest" one more time, I'd fall asleep right then and there. Instead, I waited till after church and took a good long nap. After watching the Spanish soccer team ALMOST win against Italy (they tied 1:1), I went for a short run and now I'm feeling ready to face the new week.

I'm not sure what the best way to study for finals will be. As I was working on my paper, I also went through some of my old course notebooks and did some re-organizing. That was helpful, so I'll continue with that process. I could do some reading, but I've done so much reading for research these past few weeks, I'm looking forward to just sitting and reading long passages of the Bible just because. It's been awhile since I read through the whole book. I think I'll make that a goal starting with my birthday in July.
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Thanks for all the encouraging responses to my last blog post! What I didn't mention is that I broke my last streak because of my mom's death on May 29. 2010. I actually started exercising again the next day. I've learned that it's one of my best survival techniques. But I didn't start tracking again till June 9. I learned today that another Spark friend, JanetR, lost her mom last week. Praying for her and her family today.

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Streaker

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Today I celebrate two years straight of daily 30 minutes intentional exercise.

On some days, it's been just an easy walk, or marching in place in front of the TV. Other days, a run, a long Nordic walking tour, or maybe a session with Jillian, Leslie or Denise. I can hardly imagine a day without exercise anymore!!!

Thanks, SP for giving me a place to keep track --- and thanks Spark friends for the encouragement, fun and accountability. You are a blessing and I appreciate you!

P.S. I finished my paper and turned it in yesterday. Phew, glad that's done - onward to finals on the 18th and 19th.

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Hey, Firecrackers!

Thursday, June 07, 2012

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the Summer 5% Challenge:

www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_i
ndividual.asp?gid=56665

I wasn't sure I was going to sign up this time around, because of travel plans, but I decided to got for it. The team enthusiasm and accountability have really helped me in the past and, although I didn't lost my 5% last time like I did last summer, I know that being on the team really helped keep me from gaining during these past few super-stressful months.

My goal is to get down to 63.5 kilos by the start of the challenge - I'm about two pounds away. That means that losing 5% during the challenge will take me almost all the way down to 60, the top of my goal range. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Anyway, come along for the ride. I'm a Firecracker, but I'm sure you'll have fun on any of the teams.

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In other news, my eyeballs are starting to mold to the shape of my laptop screen, but I am making progress on the paper. I have 26 hours to finish!

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I don't really have time to be here...

Sunday, June 03, 2012

...but I thought I'd check in. It's going to be a push to get this paper done. I have a hefty teaching schedule the next couple of days, so won't have much time to write, just to continue to read and gather my notes. I do have the outline set up and the bibliography is formatted, and the first three pages are written. The intro is always a bear and I think I've got that nailed. Keep those prayers coming, folks!

Having to discipline myself in the study area has caused me to be more disciplined in others, like EATING. I'm always amazed at how that works, although I've seen it happen again and again. Duh. Need to REMEMBER these things! I'm starting my third week of daily tracking with only a few smallish calorie overages in the past two. Looking forward to the pay-off on the scale tomorrow. You ought to be hearing a big "Woohoo" from this direction at around 7AM at GMT plus 1.

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All is Vanity

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

After my last blog...especially after reading some of the comments, I wanted to be sure that I didn't come across as gloating over being a size 6 and aiming for a size 4. We're all where we are in our Spark journey and everyone is doing their best to reach a healthy goal weight (right?) regardless of what number that might be for you.

But I would be dishonest to say that I'm totally immune to "vanity sizing." I won't pay MORE for a pair of jeans just because they are 2's - but I did buy a pair a few years back and I'm looking forward to getting back into them. All the while, I'm realizing that they are probably the equivalent of the junior 9/10's I used to wear when I was the same weight back in school.

I'm always struck by the crazy sizing when I'm home in the States. (I do most of my clothes shopping there because it's so much cheaper than here in Germany and they have super thrift stores in the town where I live.)

So I went looking for an article about the phenomenon:

www.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/business/
25sizing.html

It sure makes shopping more complicated, but I think that's what the marketers want. The more complicated they make it, the more time you'll spend on their websites or in their stores. The research says that the longer you're there, the more you'll buy. Good to be aware!

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