SURRENDERINGALL's SparkPeople Blog

Been A While...

Thu, 13 May 2010 21:24:53 EST

So it has been over a month since I last blogged. SOOO freakin much has happened since then. It is really too much to capture in a single blog, but I will give the highlights.

1. Yep, I did it...I graduated! I now officially hold a Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership. And get this...I have a 4.0!! It has been incredibly tough to be full time at work, school and home, but all three required my attention and somehow I found the time and energy to get it all don...

The Truth about Erika...

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:27:21 EST

Not sure who noticed, but about 2 weeks ago, I took down my weight tracker. I told myself that it was because I was no longer going to be so consumed or defined by weight, but that was just a cover up for the truth. Actually, instead of losing weight, I am gaining weight. Yep, that's the honest truth. I started SP on Jan. 11, weighing 200 pounds, lost about 6 and am now right back up to exactly 200. I could blame a lot of things -- I am an Assistant Principal at a demanding high school; ...

A Much Needed Break...

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 20:04:11 EST

My husband and I had an awesome weekend. We went to the Final Four in Indianapolis and just had a ball!

From meeting Darius Rucker

To cooking with Top Chef Richard Blais

To offering our BEST impersonations of REAL sportscasters

You know how sometimes you can simply be moving forward in the hustle and bustle of life when this "thing" crosses your path and dares you not to take a serious look at it. Well, this quote kind of hit me that way. I had really been down on myself because I did not feel like I was...

A Conversation with Myself...

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:45:22 EST

This morning was treacherous! I knew that the weatherman had promised a beautiful sunny day outside, just the perfect was to bring in the first day of spring. But alas, as I finish up this Educational Specialist degree, I had to go sit in class this morning. The room was cold and window-less -- not the way you want to start spring. But this is a necessary evil as I move into my destiny and I remind myself to "enjoy the journey."

So I was pleasantly surprised at around 2 when ou...

Last Words

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:54:49 EST

Oh my, it has been almost a week since I posted my last blog. Springs comes with so many responsibilities at home and work, so my time has not exactly been my own.

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a beautiful celebration of life service for my great aunt. She lived to the ripe age of 87 and while that is impressive these days, even more impressive was the lifestyle she CHOSE to live. Nearly 30 years ago, my great aunt Mo was diagnosed with leukemia. Her older brother...

Just Call me NEO

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:44:35 EST

So I was sitting in my graduate class tonight, watching the clock slowly tick toward eternity. At least it felt like an eternity!! I mean, the class is pretty good, but tonight was not my night. Plus, my professor is this old, cynical, pompous guy who thinks that the only way you go to heaven is through law school. SERIOUSLY, going to law school must have been the only thing right in his life because he reminds us that he is a lawyer at least once every five minutes. OKAY, WE GET IT!! So...

My New Diet Plan

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 20:24:16 EST

OK, so it's not a real diet plan, but if I had to go to the dentist everyday, I could probably lose quite a bit of weight really quickly!!! I would spare you the gory details, but I feel compelled to share...

So I HATE the dentist and orthodontist -- no offense to my oral hygiene inclined friends out there. I had braces not once, but TWICE...I have two extra bones in the bottom of my mouth...I was "put to sleep" one time, but felt every moment of the drill in my mouth. Needless ...

You Know You Are Addicted To SparkPeople If:

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 17:31:04 EST

So I was sitting at my computer, pouring over all of the new posts, blogs, messages, articles, etc. on SparkPeople. You all know how we do it...our intention is to spend a few minutes tracking our meals and those few minutes turn into a few hours. How is it that this site is so addicting? I mean, this is not Facebook or MySpace where you are catching up with people you have known for years. Instead, we are spending countless hours on this site "talking" to people that we've never met befo...

Celebrating the Woman I've Become

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 20:37:57 EST

As I think back over the past month, I can truly say that they most significant change in my life has been joining SparkPeople. This one event has single-handedly altered the way I view myself, my approach food and my motivation toward exercise. The friends I have met have inspired me to become all that I have been called to be. I am finally happy with who I am today and simultaneously look forward to what I am to become.

As I was listening to my favorite neo-soul music today,...

C25K Day 1

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:53:54 EST

I downloaded the Christian version of the C25K podcast. It is hard to call this a mistake cause "God don't make no mistakes." So...well...let's just say that I was not as encouraged by the music as I wanted to be. In fact, I almost went back in the house, but I knew that this was just another excuse not to do what I know I need to do. So I sucked it up and began the first walk.

Then the cue guy says to start the first run. A wave of panic came over me. I literally have not ...

Start Your Engines

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:48:19 EST

So I have been saying that I was wanted to run (not walk) a few 5K races this year. Notice the key word "saying." Until today, I have not DONE anything to move closer to that goal. I mean, I have looked on website to find out what 5Ks were in my area, but that's kinda like going to the mall a few days before pay day. You know good and well that you don't have any money, but "one day!"

Well friends, my one day has come. Today, I spent some quality time on the internet researchi...

The Scale Moved!!!

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:44:08 EST

No funny story today, just excitement beyond belief that the scale finally moved. Last week, I gained 3 lbs. Not sure where the heck it came from, but it was there and I was scared that it was going to bring friends. I have chosen Friday to be my weigh in day, so I braced myself this morning and decided that whatever came, I was going to find joy in knowing that I had a successful week -- not perfect, but successful. I couldn't ask for more!

I am repeating the mantra, "It is n...

I've Fallen and I Can't Get up

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:00:12 EST

Ya'll remember that old lady in the commercial who yells "I've fallen and I can't get up!" I used to laugh at her and wonder who in the world of advertising thought that "Ah-ha, THIS is the commercial that deserves airtime and will make people go out and buy this product." I don't pretend to know how many MedicAlerts were sold as a result of that commercial, but I know that people recognize the catch phrase.

This brings me to my afternoon at the gym. I did a step aerobics class ...

Oh No She Didn't!

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:45:42 EST

I got up this morning, planning to (1) be on time and (2) purpose myself to make good decisions. Well you know that as soon as i got out of the bed, both those goals were shot! Let me explain....

So I get my kiddos up, like every other morning, and get them started before I go back downstairs to finish breakfast and any last minute things I have to do. We have decided to start helping the kids make good decisions with little things so that they will feel confident making decisio...

Push It, Push It

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:17:29 EST

I am happy to update those who read my earlier blog about spinning. My butt no longer hurts!! Now, don't everyone pat me on the back at once. Matter of fact, just give me a high five cause my back is KILLING me! Anyway, the instructor was right, the more you spin, the more comfortable you become with the seat. I am a little concerned about that though, cause what if I have permanent nerve damage? I am teasing!!!

If you have ever done a spinning class before, then you know tha...

Death by Raisinettes

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:51:32 EST

Have you ever walked into a fire storm at work and it just seemed like there were not enough extinguishers to put them out. Dude, I had one of those days today. I mean, as soon as i walked into the building, there was someone with an "emergency" right at my door. I didn't even have enough time to turn on my computer (which later turned out to be a mistake because my boss needed something early in the morning that I quite naturally did not have.) At any rate, I felt like I didn't even have...

Good Days, Sunshine...

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:25:26 EST

Today was absolutely beautiful! The weather was a gorgeous 66 degrees in the Atlanta metro area. After church, I took my children out bike riding in our neighborhood, then on to the park for some much needed freedom to scream and run. My, if we could only be like children... Anyway, as I was was sitting there, watching the children work themselves into a good night's sleep (thank goodness), I began to ponder how quickly the weather changes. I mean, just last Saturday, we had over 2 inche...

Messed Around and Got a Triple Double

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:19:16 EST

So you basketball fans can appreciate that a triple double is what all players dream of. It is when you get double digits in three different statistics. For example, if you score 24 points, make 10 assists and clinch 15 rebounds, they call it a triple double. It's like the ultimate feat in a game!

Well, my triple double isn't quite as grand as that, but impressive nonetheless (at least to me). This week {drumroll please} I went to the gym and took: 3 group classes between Monda...

Unh-unh -- This Can't Be!

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:06:22 EST

Ok, let's cut to the chase...I stepped on the scale this morning and it said the WRONG thing. I figured that it was just a bad spot on the floor (yeah right), so I moved it to another side of the perfectly level bathroom floor and stepped on again. Surely that first number was a fluke -- right? WRONG!!!

I mean, what happened? I have gone to the gym three times this week and tracked every bite of food that has gone into my mouth AND stayed within my caloric boundaries. How is i...

Old Friends...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:28:48 EST

Have you ever had a really good friend that you somehow lost touch with? I mean, you all were as thick as thieves but something happened that made you drift apart. Well, an old friend and I have had that same situation. The last time I hung out with her, I promised to see her again real soon, but I didn't and I am ashamed to admit it.

So last week, I was mulling around on the internet. Then it hit me...I need to look her up to see what she is up to these days. I found her righ...

My Butt is on F-I-R-E

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:52:30 EST

As I was flipping through Sparkpages yesterday, I stumbled across someone who was doing a 30 day journal challenge. I thought to myself, huh, what a great idea. Journaling, blogging, whatever you call it -- has never been a forte. I am not the best at writing my feelings, but boy can I speak my mind (just ask my husband!) At any rate, I have had such a horrible time getting motivated to exercise, so this is my jumpstart and accountability regimen. A commitment to blog is a commitment to ...

It Has Happened Again

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:16:50 EST

I was doing so well with my lifestyle eating and had lost 6 pounds in January. I had been tracking religiously and felt really good about the decisions I was making. Then the first week of February passed with no weight loss -- second week, again no weight loss. There is no way that i have hit a plateau this early and I am bummed about no progress. I do, however, realize that I am an emotional eater but I cannot allow this defeated emotion get the best of me.

First Time for Everything

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:17:29 EST

I have never, ever, ever blogged before. In fact, I have been pretty repulsed by the thought of social networking at all. However, as my name suggests, I am surrendering all in the name of health. Folks often say, "if you do what you always did, you will get what you always got." I am determined to do things differently and it starts with journaling this experience in my life. I have done this before, but there is something different about this time. This time, I am becoming a more info...