Weight journey update and a new goal

Hello--I'm back again! Today has been a busy day, what with church, making cookies, cleaning the house, etc... Fortunately, I have a bit of free time to quickly catch you up on my weight journey--after all, isn't that what this blog is about?! Of course.

First, I'll start with a new weekly goal:

Put my alarm clock far enough away that I have to get up to turn it off.

I have a tendency to plug my iPhone in on my nightstand and then turn off the alarm and not wake up for some time (occasionally I don't even know I turn it off). I do have a digital clock that I set up on my dresser (across the room) with the numbers facing away from me (I read in an article that the bright digital light from a digital clock can keep you up). *sigh* If I must get up, I must get up. I hate getting up early.

I will also be maintaining the goal from the previous week:

Lay out the clothes I plan to work out in before and set my socks and shoes at the foot of my bed.

I REALLY like this habit I'm starting to form. This makes my pre-workout morning minutes SO EASY and stress-free. When I wake up, BAM. There are my clothes, ready to go. Cell phone charged to listen to music. The only problem is that I love leaving all my shoes downstairs, so many mornings I forget my sneakers downstairs in the kitchen. Surprisingly, I like my shoes upstairs better because I then know where my entire work-out outfit is.


Now for the update on my weight loss journey:

At the end of November (the 25th to be exact), I officially reached my highest weight yet. I don't feel comfortable disclosing it yet, but needless to say, I was extremely disheartened. On top of that, I could constantly feel my blood pressure rising, as day after day, I would be stressed, exhausted, and worn down. I kept going through my head of reasons that my bp and weight were up so high: Thanksgiving, chocolate, pop, PIZZA, mac and cheese, burgers (we just got a new 5 Guys in town--love it), not working out as much, dealing with a new lifestyle pace I was not used to...but all that really kept popping up was: what a LETDOWN. I won't lie--I cried on the way home from the gym. It felt like an impossible task, and in some ways I still believe parts of it might be. A week ago today, that changed.

On the 26th of November, I made a daring effort: I would work out 5 days IN A ROW. That had never happened before--my workouts were sporadic at best. 1 a week here, nothing for a month, 2 a week there at the most. Not thinking about the past, I just took the bull by the horns and ALMOST did it. I went 3 days in a row (more than I had ever gone in a week since joining). I worked my BUTT off each day using the Anytime Health workout planner that came with my membership. I was EXHAUSTED and sore after day 3. I quit for about 3 days, then went back and started up an every other day routine.

This past Saturday, I noticed what looked like red spots forming on my neck and throat. I went to the Urgent Care facility and found out it was "contact dermatitis". This is when red, sore, itchy spots break out on your skin because of something I came in contact with. It is not contagious or life-threatening. It's just annoying. SO, I just finished taking Me.tt//.refn rwhjlGFNLUI something like that and am still using Caladryl lotion on it...unfortunately, it hasn't gone away yet, which means another doctor appt. tomorrow...uck.

ANYWAYS. THE IMPORTANT PART. Of course they make you take your height, weight, and blood pressure. The nurse took my height: 5'4" (YES I GREW 1/4"; I AM NOW TALLER THAN MOM). Then, I stepped on the scale. For once, I was not nervous because I knew it was bad. The nurse said ok and I looked up. Tears formed in my eyes. I had dropped 7 LBS. 7 LBS!!!!!!! I couldn't contain my excitement. I squealed and told the nurse what I had done (she looked at me like I was nuts at first). After congratulating me, I bounced into the room and she took my blood pressure. After taking it twice (the cuff popped off of my arm) she said, "ok". What was it? I asked with intrepidation. The last time I had it taken, it was high...like 140 over 96-ish, I admitted. She looked at me and says (oh so nonchalantly), "You're normal. 128 over 76." WOAH. WHAT. 3 DAYS OF WORKING HARD AND I DROP 7 LBS AND 20 POINTS OFF OF MY BLOOD PRESSURE. I almost started crying right there. This poor nurse had no idea what was going on with this teary-eyed patient. I was just so......proud of myself. I did this...all by myself. Just me. You have no idea how good life can be until YOU take ahold of your life and make it go YOUR way. Now I just want to go run in the streets, but since it's raining, I'll keep it bottled inside for now. Until I hit 10 lbs down. Then, I'll probably publicly sob.

Until tomorrow.

Hey...remember me?

Wow. What a looong hiatus I just took. Life has been INSANELY busy and I am slowly but surely adjusting to my new work-schedule craziness. While I can snatch some free time, I thought I would update readers on my life and WHY it is so busy. Here goes; see if you can keep up with me now.

1.) Throughout June, July, and August, I searched intensely for jobs, first in Cincinnati, then anywhere in OH. While some interviews came up, nothing went further than an interview.

2.) During the summer, I had quite a few substitute jobs as an organist around town (@ my home church and at a neighboring church). Aside from that, no job bites.

3.) In the middle of August, a close friend of mine suggested I audition for her church as a full-time organist. I thought about it and put it on my back burner.

4.) Near the end of August, I got a phone call from a local school choir director looking for an accompanist for the 2012-13 school year, and BAM...first job.

5.) Soon after, I received a call from the pastor of my close friend's church, saying that my friend and her mother had recommended me for the organ job. I went in for an audition a few days later, and found out the night of the audition that I was the new organist!

6.) Immediately after getting my 2nd job, I got calls from 3 different churches, asking me to substitute or be a full-time organist, and I had to turn them all down. :(

7.) I put out flyers around town offering piano lessons and got a call from a mother looking for a teacher for her son! That is job #3!

8.) By the middle of September, I had begun subbing at my old school district. Job #4!

9.) This past weekend, I played for my old high school chamber choir for a performance at the church I play at! That was a part-time job (one practice a week, 2-3x total). Job(ish) #5!

PHEW. My workload is heavy, but it is all worth it. Every job involves something I love doing: teaching, or making music. What a crazy, beautiful life.


PS: I will try to post more, especially about my weight loss journey. BIG NEWS ABOUT MY HEALTH COMING SOON. VERY EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New recipe!

Hello again!! So far this week, I have not completed my goal of "sleeping in fitness attire" yet, but it will be done by Sunday!!

I haven't put a new recipe on here in quite some time, so here is a classic: Homemade French Toast. This is Mom's recipe (not sure where she got it...).

Ingredients:
4 large eggs
1 c. milk
4 tsp. brown sugar OR honey
1 tsp. vanilla extract OR almond extract

Directions:

1.) In an oblong dish/baking dish, combine ingredients until well blended.

2. Dio bread into mixture, coating both sides thoroughly. *NOTE: At this point, I like to sprinkle nutmeg on one side of the coated bread. Then I lay it on the griddle and sprinkle the other side with nutmeg. This is a personal addition.*

3. Place bread on very hot greased griddle for about 3-5 minutes. Turn over when bread seems dry on griddle side. Remove when both sides are browned and dry.

Here is the finished product:

A simple recipe. Enjoy!

Music Monday

If you've been paying attention to the weather lately, you've probably seen that nasty Hurricane Sandy. If you live in Northern Ohio, you've probably also heard about 2 fronts colliding: a cold front (which is impacting us now) and then Hurricane Sandy's outer bands. *SIGH* This is going to be a long week of rain, wind, possible power outages, and dark skies.

On a happier note, it is Music Monday, and since temperatures have dropped roughly 30 degrees from last week (70s to 40s), I thought another Christmas song was appropriate! Henceforth:

"Adeste Fidelis" by Lou Monte.

No youtube video, sorry, but it's still a good song, and I consider it a Christmas classic. :D

Have a great day! Enjoy the rain, wind, and mess, and East Coasters (especially Dad's family members), stay safe.

PS: Watching the Daily Buzz news; they said watching horror movies can actually help you lose weight. WATCHING EVERY HORROR MOVIE I POSSIBLY CAN.

New Goal Sunday

Haven't been on here in awhile--sorry 'bout that--because I've been so STINKING BUSY! Phew! Finally have a break to watch the Browns game (I'm a die-hard fan no matter how much they stink) and blog.

Today is Sunday, which means a new goal. This week's goal is:

Go to sleep in your activewear, if comfortable.

Since I don't run, running shorts are out of the question (which is what the goal originally read). I changed this goal wording for me.

I joined Anytime Fitness in my hometown in September and have been trying to get up early to workout when I can. This goal will help me get moving quicker in the morning.

There will be an update coming soon on just what is keeping me so busy as of lately.

I'm back!

Music Monday & a book review

Hello again! Hopefully this week, I can stay on track with blogging. This past weekend, I was gone in Cincinnati for the 2012 Zinzinnati Oktoberfest (which by the way was amazing), and now I am back for a PACKED week. Today, I am practicing organ and have a 12 o'clock appointment with my FREE PERSONAL TRAINER working out (oh yah).

Since it is Monday, I thought I would get back in the swing of things with a new music choice:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Another Way You Can Die"

This song comes off of their "Night Castle" CD (2 volumes), the newest music they have out there. The "Night Castle" CDs are not Christmas music, but instead a story created from songs. I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZyHgFTD44


Next is a book review. After reading through some new books I bought (Ayn Rand's Anthem and The Help I have finally been back to my local library. Today's book review is: "Crying Wolf" by Peter Abrahams.

At first, this plot was a bit confusing, especially after I read a short summary of it. It is about a young man who heads to college, leaving a family and girlfriend behind. There, he meets twin girls who have a rich (although somewhat messed up) family. He spends Christmas break with the family and gets involved (hmmhmm) with one of the twins.

While this is happening, another sidestory is happening as well. "Freedy" is a pool cleaner in CA who moves back east to his mom's (near the college the students go to). There, he steals appliances and sells them to his friend's dad, who again sells them.

Back to the twins and "Nat". They discover underground tunnels in the school (how they heat the college), and find a completely furnished room. In this room, they listen to music (Rigoletto!) and drink century-old booze.

In the end, one twin is kidnapped by you'll never guess who, the other twin and "Nat" pay ransom, and there are some surprising last-minute switches!

Overall, a good book, but I question some characters' reason of being there. Such as the philosophy prof. Did I mention him up there? No? That's why. I am still not sure why he was in the plot...oh well. Good book aside from that!

Read any good books lately? Are you a fan of TSO? If so, what's your favorite song?

Orange Cream Smoothie

Hello--again, I have been off of my usual blogging schedule. It is getting busier and busier in my life, which is never a problem, especially because the more job and musical experience I have, the more confident I get, but the problem DOES occur when it comes to time to sit down and write a blog.

Today would normally not be a posting day unless something big happens, but I have to put up this recipe for an: Orange Cream Smoothie. I just made this and am enjoying it now! No pictures up, but here's the recipe:

This comes from my newest cookbook, "How to Cook Everything; The Basics--All You Need to Make Great Food" I am a terrible cook. This book is necessary.

The original recipe is a Vanilla-Peach Smoothie, but I chose the orange cream smoothie variation.

Ingredients: 2 cups orange juice
1 cup Greek Yogurt (I used vanilla)
1 cup ice (I used 3 ice cubes)
1 frozen banana (I am weak and could not peel the frozen banana, so I
used 1 fresh)
Directions:
1.) Put the ingredients in a blender. TIP: THE BLENDER WILL WORK BEST IF YOU PUT THE LIQUIDS AND BANANA IN FIRST, THEN ADD ANY REMAINING FRUIT AND ICE (IF THE FRUIT ISN'T FROZEN).
2.) Start by pulsing the machine, then turn it on and whiz it until smooth. If it is having trouble, add a splash more orange juice. Serve it right away, ideally in chilled glasses.

At first, the orange juice was a bit strong, but as I sipped more, it weakened a bit. This was a yummy recipe (and healthy with the greek yogurt)! Enjoy!