I hate days like this. Over the past week, I have noticed that I am DEFINITELY slipping away from my first day, ready-to-go, determined self. I feel like I've become complacent with my life and the schedule I have. Here is my schedule:
5:00 a.m.= wake up/take shower
5:15 a.m. = get dressed
5:30 a.m. = make-up
5:45 a.m. = breakfast (usually I watch the news during this time)
6:15 a.m. = brush teeth/get ready to leave for school
6:30 a.m. = leave for school
7:00 a.m. = make copies, get resources and room ready
7:25 a.m. = hall duty
8:00 a.m. = class
11:25 a.m. = leave for high school (I usually eat a packed lunch while on the road)
11:40ish a.m = arrive at high school
12:00 p.m. = class
2:30 p.m. = class done
3:30 p.m. (to 10:30 p.m.) = get home
4:00 p.m. = write lesson plan 1
5:00 p.m. = dinner
5:30 p.m. = write lesson plan 2
6:30 p.m. = write lesson plan 3
7:30 p.m. = break
8:00 p.m. = write lesson plan 4 (last for middle school in morning)
9:00 p.m. = get ready for bed
9:30 p.m. = read
10:00 p.m. = bed
So, there's my daily schedule. I follow it as much as I can. Notice that this leaves no time for lesson plans for the high school. Also, it leaves me VERY LITTLE TIME to DO anything other than schoolworkschoolwork. I have NO planning/free periods during the day--from one place to another, teaching all the time.
A little more background information on me: pop, that's one of my main downfalls. It is so convenient and easy to grab (hello drive-thrus!); my "meal plans" are not the best--any meals I don't like on the meal plan I use, I replace with whatever's on sale at the grocery store that week (which is usually frozen dinners, and not really the healthy ones), so it could use a lot of work. I (try to remember to) take a bottle of water with me to school each day to help my voice from all the singing.
Exercise is non-existent, as is obvious from my schedule. I don't know how people do it.
My own will control is very weak. I am working so hard on fixing this, but it seems like nothing's working.
Wednesdays, I have class from 4-5:30 p.m., and am usually not back until almost 6. That should be it.
Now it's your turn, few blog readers. WHAT can I possibly do to get back on track to a healthy lifestyle with a schedule like this? What can I do to make my life better/easier?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Goaltime
Haven't been on here in awhile for a reason, I promise. This was the first week of student teaching, and I realized just how BUSY teachers really are, no matter what subject they teach. I was running all week--when I woke up at 5 each morning, I was out the door by 6:45-7. I got home Monday at 10:30 pm, Tuesday at 9:30 pm, Wednesday at 5 pm, Thursday at 3:15 pm, and Friday at 4 pm. For anyone who thinks their life is busy and sucks, PLEASE don't complain to me until you've been moving around all day for 16 HOURS STRAIGHT. When you've done what I (and I'm sure, the rest of the senior mused people who are student teaching now) have done this week, then come moan and groan to me. PS: All those "free hours" after school--I was writing lesson plans, which take about 1 1/2 hours each (4 total, for now).
New goal this week, because I think I'm starting to get life under control. My new goal is to take the time to make a meal plan for the next week that is healthy. Survey says--I mean Sparkpeople says:
Spend 15 minutes or so to map out your meals. Keep it simple. Then, when you shop for groceries, make your purchases based on the meals you will make during the week. This will help you avoid relying on less healthy take-out or fast food choices.
Grocery shopping is my favorite time of the week. I try to go early every Sunday morning. It is now a treat I look forward to every week. I love it because it's "me" time. Time for me, just me, to relax, catch my breath from the week, and enjoy some solitude away from UC and this apartment. Shopping has become truly enjoyable for me.
I will be posting some grocery-shopping tips later in the week. No recipe of the week--I am just TOO busy!!! BUT, be on the lookout for new music tomorrow!
New goal this week, because I think I'm starting to get life under control. My new goal is to take the time to make a meal plan for the next week that is healthy. Survey says--I mean Sparkpeople says:
Spend 15 minutes or so to map out your meals. Keep it simple. Then, when you shop for groceries, make your purchases based on the meals you will make during the week. This will help you avoid relying on less healthy take-out or fast food choices.
Grocery shopping is my favorite time of the week. I try to go early every Sunday morning. It is now a treat I look forward to every week. I love it because it's "me" time. Time for me, just me, to relax, catch my breath from the week, and enjoy some solitude away from UC and this apartment. Shopping has become truly enjoyable for me.
I will be posting some grocery-shopping tips later in the week. No recipe of the week--I am just TOO busy!!! BUT, be on the lookout for new music tomorrow!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
New week, same goals
This week is going to be a work in progress week for me. I am not going to start up a new goal this week. Instead of starting a new goal, I am going to be working on keeping up on the goals I have started so far. A recap of these goals:
1. Drink water throughout the day.
2. Cut back on the amount of soda and caffeine.
3. Replace high-sugar foods with low-sugar versions.
4. Stock up on healthy, portable snacks.
5. Track all food eaten.
I think that is it so far. This week, I bought some cheese cubes to use as a snack during my student teaching days. Basically, I'm going to work hard to keep up with these goals. Small steps, people, small steps. I already feel better, and I know I am slowly beginning to eat healthier.
Thanks for the support!! See you tomorrow for Music Monday!
This week's recipe: gobble, gobble
1. Drink water throughout the day.
2. Cut back on the amount of soda and caffeine.
3. Replace high-sugar foods with low-sugar versions.
4. Stock up on healthy, portable snacks.
5. Track all food eaten.
I think that is it so far. This week, I bought some cheese cubes to use as a snack during my student teaching days. Basically, I'm going to work hard to keep up with these goals. Small steps, people, small steps. I already feel better, and I know I am slowly beginning to eat healthier.
Thanks for the support!! See you tomorrow for Music Monday!
This week's recipe: gobble, gobble
Friday, March 16, 2012
Ain't no thing but a chicken wing!
I know, 2 posts in 1 day, but I HAD promised that I would share a chicken wing recipe with you all this week. FINALLY, I have time to make it and enjoy it. I am making "Can't Get Enough Chicken Wings" from the book pictured below: 100 best 4 ingredient recipes. This book has appetizers, side dishes, chicken, beef, pork, fish/shellfish, kid food, and desserts, all with (who would have guessed) 4 ingredients.
Here are the ingredients:
18 chicken wings (about 3 lbs) ( NB: in the picture, you can see I only have about 1.5 lbs of chicken--you can cut the recipe in 1/2 if you want)
1 envelope LIPTON RECIPE SECRETS Savory Herb with Garlic soup mix
1/2 cup water
2-3 Tbsp. hot pepper sauce (optional and you can use as much as you would like)
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
First, cut the tips off the chicken wings. You can dispose of these or save them for soup (make your own chicken stock? Yum). Deep fry, bake or broil the wings until they're golden brown and crunchy. I did a standard setting (350) and just watched the chicken wings. If you're going to bake them (like I am), I suggest lining a pan w/aluminum foil and then spraying it w/non-stick cooking spray. This might seem cautious, but I have learned too many times that the spray really does help.
Tips: salt and pepper your chicken before you bake it. That way, the chicken and skin will have some flavor.
I put my chicken in the oven to bake at 350 degrees with a 30-minute timer, but I would keep an eye on it. Also, don't forget to check the temp of the chicken--160 degrees or more!
Don't forget to wash your hands after touching raw chicken!
While this is going, in a small saucepan combine the soup mix, water, and hot pepper sauce if you want any--I'm not! Cook this over a low heat, stirring it occasionally, for 2 minutes, or until it thickens it up. After it thickens, remove it from the heat and stir in margarine.
Finally, in a large bowl, toss the cooked chicken wings with the hot soup mixture until the chicken is evenly coated. The book suggests serving over greens with cut-up celery. However, I'm going to eat it just the way it is.
Ta-da! The finished product. I ate this with a salad, some fruit(mandarin oranges), and orange juice (don't ask me why--I've been craving it all day).
Taste test: It was.....ok. I'm not really a fan of garlic, so I wasn't lovin' the sauce...and I might have undercooked the chicken a wee bit.
Here are the ingredients:
18 chicken wings (about 3 lbs) ( NB: in the picture, you can see I only have about 1.5 lbs of chicken--you can cut the recipe in 1/2 if you want)
1 envelope LIPTON RECIPE SECRETS Savory Herb with Garlic soup mix
1/2 cup water
2-3 Tbsp. hot pepper sauce (optional and you can use as much as you would like)
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter
First, cut the tips off the chicken wings. You can dispose of these or save them for soup (make your own chicken stock? Yum). Deep fry, bake or broil the wings until they're golden brown and crunchy. I did a standard setting (350) and just watched the chicken wings. If you're going to bake them (like I am), I suggest lining a pan w/aluminum foil and then spraying it w/non-stick cooking spray. This might seem cautious, but I have learned too many times that the spray really does help.
Tips: salt and pepper your chicken before you bake it. That way, the chicken and skin will have some flavor.
I put my chicken in the oven to bake at 350 degrees with a 30-minute timer, but I would keep an eye on it. Also, don't forget to check the temp of the chicken--160 degrees or more!
Don't forget to wash your hands after touching raw chicken!
While this is going, in a small saucepan combine the soup mix, water, and hot pepper sauce if you want any--I'm not! Cook this over a low heat, stirring it occasionally, for 2 minutes, or until it thickens it up. After it thickens, remove it from the heat and stir in margarine.
Finally, in a large bowl, toss the cooked chicken wings with the hot soup mixture until the chicken is evenly coated. The book suggests serving over greens with cut-up celery. However, I'm going to eat it just the way it is.
Ta-da! The finished product. I ate this with a salad, some fruit(mandarin oranges), and orange juice (don't ask me why--I've been craving it all day).
Taste test: It was.....ok. I'm not really a fan of garlic, so I wasn't lovin' the sauce...and I might have undercooked the chicken a wee bit.
Ow,ow,ow,OW!
I'M INJURED!!!!! I haven't been injured like this in a long time. Yesterday, I was trying to kick a shoe out of the way, and I jammed my left foot's baby toe against it. Honestly, I do this all the time, but never has it bruised as much as it did. My toe has NEVER turned purple before!!! I freaked out this morning when I still couldn't walk on it and realized the color change. Today, I've been keeping off of the foot pretty much all day (sleeping, writing lesson plans/syllabi, etc...), but I am gettin' cabin fevah! I need to get out of here--even if it's just downstairs to get a snack!!!!!
Now, after "being off" of my toe for approx. 10 hours (yes, I've been up since 6), I guess it's time to move around a bit. The coloring has gone down slightly, and there is no swelling, which is good.....right?....I can *gingerly* walk on it. Hopefully by Monday, when I'm on my feet all day (!), it will be all better.
Yikes. I must have DEEPLY BRUISED this thing....
Now, after "being off" of my toe for approx. 10 hours (yes, I've been up since 6), I guess it's time to move around a bit. The coloring has gone down slightly, and there is no swelling, which is good.....right?....I can *gingerly* walk on it. Hopefully by Monday, when I'm on my feet all day (!), it will be all better.
Yikes. I must have DEEPLY BRUISED this thing....
Monday, March 12, 2012
It's a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win...
My music choice today is Taylor Swift's "Change". I love this song. It's off of her 2nd CD, Fearless. This song makes me feel so inspired. On top of that, I also LOVE Taylor Swift. So, enjoy today's music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1jYllE0T-k&ob=av2e
Finals week/student teaching, here I come!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1jYllE0T-k&ob=av2e
Finals week/student teaching, here I come!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Success!
Another week flies by!!! As they say, time flies when you're having fun, which is definitely what was happening this week/end.
While this week was really busy, it was a good kind of busy: student teaching is slowly starting to get back into full gear. I love student teaching. There is just something about it that I enjoy SO MUCH. Everyday I head south to KY, I get a big smile on my face, my whole attitude brightens up, and I get so excited.
So, this Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, I went to the middle school. It was so much fun!!!!!! And next week, I'm going all day Tuesday-Thursday, AND teaching warm-ups to the choirs!!!!! :D AHHH!!!!!!!! So pumped!
That's my success in student teaching. Now, my success in my journey. I have COMPLETELY stopped going to Starbucks. That costs 1600-1800 cals/wk. WOW. I realized why I decided to stop--I love SB frapps, don't get me wrong. I mean, a peppermint mocha frapp? Yes, PLEEZ. However, I can get nearly the same thing at Panera in the form of a frozen mocha. And since I usually only go to Panera once a week, that's only one drink a week (570 cals, but once a week, it becomes a treat). Yay for the small successes!!
This means the low-sugar goal is going well. I do NOT want to know how much sugar a frapp has....eeek....
New goal: stock up on healthy, portable snacks.
"When you are grocery shopping, pick up bags of baby carrots, string cheese, nuts, fresh and dried fruit, single serving packs of applesauce, yogurt, wholegrain crackers, peanut butter, turkey jerky, etc...Having healthy portable snacks around will help you avoid bad vending-machine, convenience store, and fast food options."
I am not good with snacks. At home, I loved having snacks around, and we always did. I just loved eating them. And eating them. And eating them. At school this year, I have actually done the opposite and had NO snacks around the place. This causes me to get up and go to a restaurant down below me (I live above food places and retail shops) and grab a cookie or chips. While this is fine (I AM getting up), these snacks are nowhere NEAR healthy, which is what I'm looking for. I have decided this week to buy some portable, healthy snacks: string cheese, yogurt, fruit, baby carrots, peanut butter, and pretzels (they're not listed, but are not extremely bad for you). I also have applesauce. This goal is perfect for me because this week, I'll be packing my lunch daily, and I can add these to my lunch as a quick treat/pick-me-up during the morning.
More to come on my weekend with Mom, and then some music and a NEW RECIPE!!! (hint: chicken wings)
PS: anybody ever try dried fruit or turkey-jerky? I have never tried these. Any suggestions on other portable, healthy snacks?
While this week was really busy, it was a good kind of busy: student teaching is slowly starting to get back into full gear. I love student teaching. There is just something about it that I enjoy SO MUCH. Everyday I head south to KY, I get a big smile on my face, my whole attitude brightens up, and I get so excited.
So, this Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, I went to the middle school. It was so much fun!!!!!! And next week, I'm going all day Tuesday-Thursday, AND teaching warm-ups to the choirs!!!!! :D AHHH!!!!!!!! So pumped!
That's my success in student teaching. Now, my success in my journey. I have COMPLETELY stopped going to Starbucks. That costs 1600-1800 cals/wk. WOW. I realized why I decided to stop--I love SB frapps, don't get me wrong. I mean, a peppermint mocha frapp? Yes, PLEEZ. However, I can get nearly the same thing at Panera in the form of a frozen mocha. And since I usually only go to Panera once a week, that's only one drink a week (570 cals, but once a week, it becomes a treat). Yay for the small successes!!
This means the low-sugar goal is going well. I do NOT want to know how much sugar a frapp has....eeek....
New goal: stock up on healthy, portable snacks.
"When you are grocery shopping, pick up bags of baby carrots, string cheese, nuts, fresh and dried fruit, single serving packs of applesauce, yogurt, wholegrain crackers, peanut butter, turkey jerky, etc...Having healthy portable snacks around will help you avoid bad vending-machine, convenience store, and fast food options."
I am not good with snacks. At home, I loved having snacks around, and we always did. I just loved eating them. And eating them. And eating them. At school this year, I have actually done the opposite and had NO snacks around the place. This causes me to get up and go to a restaurant down below me (I live above food places and retail shops) and grab a cookie or chips. While this is fine (I AM getting up), these snacks are nowhere NEAR healthy, which is what I'm looking for. I have decided this week to buy some portable, healthy snacks: string cheese, yogurt, fruit, baby carrots, peanut butter, and pretzels (they're not listed, but are not extremely bad for you). I also have applesauce. This goal is perfect for me because this week, I'll be packing my lunch daily, and I can add these to my lunch as a quick treat/pick-me-up during the morning.
More to come on my weekend with Mom, and then some music and a NEW RECIPE!!! (hint: chicken wings)
PS: anybody ever try dried fruit or turkey-jerky? I have never tried these. Any suggestions on other portable, healthy snacks?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Whoops! Workout, student teaching, life
So...I haven't been on in awhile. Life has been getting a tad busy lately, and I just haven't made the time to sit and write. It IS a new week, so time for a new goal. I'm actually going to keep the same goal as last week: look for low-sugar options instead of high-sugar foods and drinks. One of the ways I found that I can drop the sugar is to complete one of my other goals--cutting back on sugary drinks, pop, etc...It really works! I've cut down on my sugary drinks from Starbucks and Panera--now I'm down to 2 a week! Next week, I'm going to go to one! I know I can do it.
What has happened this week!?!?!?!? Welllllll......I WORKED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL YEAR THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a 20-minute workout; 10 minutes on the elliptical, and 10 minutes on the treadmill. The biggest event I did: I RAN. That's right, I RAN. On the treadmill. As in, didn't walk, didn't jog. I sprinted. 10 seconds at a time, with 50-second intervals of walking. I did it twice, and to be honest, running felt great! I have never run before in college, and it felt exciting! I hope to do it again as soon as I can!
Student teaching: I am BACK in the swing of things at TFMS!!!!!! I went for half a day yesterday, and I had so much fun! There is just something about being back in KY that makes me TRULY happy. I couldn't stop smiling yesterday morning.
Life has been extremely busy lately (which is why I haven't been updating my blog as usual). I'm down to 3 classes until I am done for the quarter!!!!!!! Next week, I have two exams on Monday, and then I'm student teaching the rest of the week!!! This is it--the end is near!!!
Coming up: new recipe (Saturday hopefully) and a weekend with Mom.
What has happened this week!?!?!?!? Welllllll......I WORKED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL YEAR THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a 20-minute workout; 10 minutes on the elliptical, and 10 minutes on the treadmill. The biggest event I did: I RAN. That's right, I RAN. On the treadmill. As in, didn't walk, didn't jog. I sprinted. 10 seconds at a time, with 50-second intervals of walking. I did it twice, and to be honest, running felt great! I have never run before in college, and it felt exciting! I hope to do it again as soon as I can!
Student teaching: I am BACK in the swing of things at TFMS!!!!!! I went for half a day yesterday, and I had so much fun! There is just something about being back in KY that makes me TRULY happy. I couldn't stop smiling yesterday morning.
Life has been extremely busy lately (which is why I haven't been updating my blog as usual). I'm down to 3 classes until I am done for the quarter!!!!!!! Next week, I have two exams on Monday, and then I'm student teaching the rest of the week!!! This is it--the end is near!!!
Coming up: new recipe (Saturday hopefully) and a weekend with Mom.
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