A food addict's travels on the road to recovery.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Summer Challenge 2010



Kandice at "No More Chunky Dunking, Time To Skinny Dip" (listed on my blogroll) is hosting a 3 month-long summer challenge!!  Kandice is my friend Billie's daughter (Billie is also my roommate Shane's fiancee)...she's a sweet girl with a fantastic personality.  I don't get to see her very often, but when I do, she always has me laughing.  She's quite witty and has a great sense of humor.  She's caused me to spit out my dinner in a restaurant more than once...she has the uncanny ability of making funny remarks just as I'm stuffing food in my face, lol.  I'm happy to do this challenge with her!  :)

The challenge runs for 3 months...ending on Aug. 23rd.  The rules are to post the badge at the start of the challenge, which is today, and to post it each Friday for our official weekly weigh-in.  I was so glad her weigh-in day was the same as mine...that's been my problem with trying to do challenges in the past.  I just can't remember to weigh on the correct day when it differs from mine!  Another little twist to her challenge is we have to post a pic of our scale reading on Fridays.  I joked with her that she's going to cost me a lot of money in pedicures!  lol  The person who loses the most weight in 3 months wins the challenge....and you are also to announce your own personal goals...if you reach those, you get another prize!

I've been thinking about this.  I have really been floundering since I got back from the beach.  The truth is, I'm more wrapped up in worrying about finding a job asap than I am with losing weight.  In fact, I went to the unemployment ofc today to see how much time is left on my current extension.  Two weeks.  I get 2 more paychecks.  As of right now, the extensions are ending on May 29th.  Whatever you're currently scheduled for is what you get...for me, it's 2 more paychecks.  There hasn't been any word yet on whether or not Congress is going to grant another extension, so things are up in the air...AGAIN.  I just cannot express to you how sick I am of being "in the system", and CANNOT WAIT to return to the private sector where work is concerned.  I started working when I was 16 years old, and this is the first time I've ever drawn unemployment.  Let me tell ya'....it ain't my cup of tea. 

I want a permanent job...that's where all of my focus is and I'm steeped in worry over it.  I'm going to try to sign up at a temp agency this Thursday...I've got to call and set up an appt.  I have to babysit tomorrow while my sister goes in the hospital to have her 3rd child, and I've got a lot of errands to run on Wednesday, so hopefully Thursday I can get signed up at my first temp agency.  I've been dreading this.  I've done temp work before....I was laid off several years ago, and instead of going the unemployment route, I worked through temp agencies....for TWO AND A HALF YEARS.  It took that long for one of those temp jobs to go permanent.  I am absolutely terrified that I'm going to go through that again...not have the security of a permanent job.  Well....there's really no such thing as job security these days...but it feels better to know you're in a permanent position than in a temporary one...know what I mean?

So...I'm really struggling with getting back on track with the health stuff.  I haven't exercised one single day since I've been back from the beach.  The desire is just not there.  My get-up-and-go has definitely got-up-and-went.  I've spent several days in the last couple of weeks TRYING to talk myself into driving over to the park and walking....even 2 miles to start with.  Hasn't happened yet.

So for the challenge, my first goal is to commit to walking, whether at the gym or at the park, at least 3 days a week.  This sounds really easy...but for me right now, it feels monumental.  Absentee desire sucks...it's a real struggle.  Now for my weight loss goals.  I think expecting to lose 15 lbs a month like I did before I went to the beach is unrealistic to carry on from month to month.  The truth is, not every month is going to be that perfect...and I don't have the same drive that I did when knowing my reward was spending 9 days in an oceanfront condo, lol.  So I'm shooting for 10 lbs/month, or 30 lbs. total for her challenge.

I weighed in at 241.2 last Friday....then had WAY too much sodium over the wknd.  Here's my official starting weigh-in this morning for Kandice's challenge:

 

And no, I didn't bother to clean up my closet floor before I weighed...I've got shoes everywhere, lol.

I forgot that I took pics of the food mom and I took to the family dinner yesterday.  I made my famous baked mac 'n' chz (my Grandma's recipe)...and mom gave me all the ingredients to make her squash casserole, and I made that while she was at church.





Here's my food for today...

Breakfast was an egg white scramble:

Calories:  228



I stopped by Larry's Subs after the unemployment office for an 8" on wheat, ham and turkey, w/ lettuce, tomato, onion, lite mayo, spicy mustard and mushrooms.

Calories:  589


I picked up something else while at Larry's...an evil chocolate chip cookie:

Calories:  100

Later I had a lemon torte parfait.

Calories:  100

Then I had (2) cups of 10 calorie sugar-free Jell-O.

Calories:  20


Dinner was 2 Italian chicken sausages on whole wheat buns w/ sauteed peppers, onions & mushrooms with some Dijon mustard.



Calories:  510

I'll have my 2 c. of decaf w/ sugar-free creamer later for my last 30 cals.

Total Calories:  1577

I have managed to get my water in the last 2 days...I've been drinking my normal (4) 32 oz. glasses.

As I mentioned earlier in the post, I'll be babysitting for a few hours tomorrow.  I'm going to try to take the kids to the lake if it doesn't rain....not sure what lunch will be, but it will probably be out somewhere.  I'll try to remember to take my camera with me.  'Nite friends.  :)

8 comments:

  1. Oh Tammy -- I just want to dive in to that bowl of mac n cheese!

    You are under a lot of stress right now. Try to remember to put yourself and your health first. You are right to get back to exercise. It is the best medicine.

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  2. I am glad I can make people laugh, life seems like crap lately so hearing that made me feel good. Thanks. Not too bad today. I forgot to take pics too! I get my calories from igoogle calorie counter. Not sure if its accurate, it called my banana a "unit" so LMAO I'm not sure about all that.

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  3. Left you an award on my blog :)

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  4. Hi Tammy. I think the temping route is a good option. Keeps your skills and confidence up. Looks good on the CV. You temped before for 2 1/2 years - but better that than be unemployed for 2 1/2 years.

    I did temping myself when I left uni and I never felt "temporary" at all. It worked for me.

    Good luck! And good luck to your sister too!

    Bearfriend xx

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  5. I had a friend who had to do temp work for a long time too before it turned into "permanent". She really hated it too. She didn't hate the jobs just the roller coaster feeling.

    I thought you had landed a job a couple weeks ago?

    I'll pray for you. I can't imagine how hard that is. I don't work and haven't forever since I've stayed home with my boys, but I can't imagine trying to get a job with how rusty I am.

    I'm sure the job thing is a big factor in your eating. I'm a total stress eater.

    Hang in there girl. I hope things start looking up really soon...

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  6. You got good looking tan feet, woman! I'm so sorry that this damn job situation is still prevailing. It has to be a worry - you wouldn't be human if it wasn't. But I have a feeling that cleaning up the food and getting in some exercise will help even out some of the head stuff. It usually does with me.

    Hopefully the temp route will have you set up with something soon. You know we all wish it for you.

    I am praying for you and thank you for returning the favor. We are going to get ahead of this weight thing. This summer. A day at a time.

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  7. Wishing you lots of luck on this challenge. I know you can do it. ME? I stopped exercising because of the pain. I start PT on June 3rd, and I am counting on my therapist to instruct me on what I can and cannot do. I don't want to aggravate my leg anymore. needless to say, I am depressed over all this, and yes, guess what, I want to eat. I am trying to just stay stable. Hope your day is wonderful, Tammy

    hugs, Kathleen

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  8. I certainly feel your pain in the fitness department. I'm definitely getting a bit lax lately myself. The running is inconsistent, but I'm eating as if I'm burning it off. We'll both get there.

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Progress Photos

Progress Photos
232 lbs. ~ Size 18/20 outfit

232 lbs.

242.0 lbs. ~ Size 22/24 outfit

242.0 lbs.

Start Weight 06-12-09

Start Weight  06-12-09
272 lbs. ~ Size 26/28 outfit