Day 11

I can't believe I'm typing this, but I got full from a spinach and feta salad. I just can't believe it. I mean, I know that spinach is full of nutrients, and they aren't empty calories, but holy crap. I can't believe I got full from a few handfuls of spinach leaves, with a few sprinkles of feta. I got full on less than 50 calories. If I keep eating like this, I'll be skinny in no time. At the risk of sounding cliche', no wonder people eat healthy lol :)

Day 10--Vegetarian Pizza (yum!)

Since beginning this journey, I've started to explore a whole new world of flavors. Today, I made vegetarian mini pizzas for dinner, and they were YUMMY :) (Spinach, a tiny bit of mozzarella, and tomato on half of a whole grain english muffin). Honestly, I never thought of eating pizza this way, but I really didn't even miss all the other crap that I would normally put on it. Today definitely felt like a small victory. I'm hoping to explore other healthy foods that I've overlooked over the years.

Day Nine--Kettlebells

I got a kettlebell for Christmas after hours of promising my husband I would actually use it. Three months later, I am actually keeping my promise :) yay! Let me just say that all of the hype about kettlebells being effective seems to be true. I felt like I was going to die after about a half hour. I hope that it will continue to kick my butt and aid in my quest for hotness.

3 Pounds Down!!!!!!

I got on the scale today, prepared for the worst, hoping for the best. To my surprise, I've lost three pounds--yay!!!!

Dr. Seuss' Hungry Song (I found it appropriate and Entertaining). Enjoy :)

Hun-gry, hun-gry, I  am  hun-gry.
Ta-ble,  ta-ble, here I come.
I could eat a goose moose  bur-ger,
fif-teen pick-les and a pur-ple plum!
Oh, the things that I could eat!

I could eat three bowls of  goo-lash,
half  a  pound of  wuz-zled wheat.
I could eat a peck of  poo-bers, 
then I'd real-ly  get to work and eat!
Oh, the stuff that I could eat!

Oys-ters, noo-dles, straw-ber-ry stroo-dles,
French fries, fish  hash, one red beet.
Lamp chops, wham chops, huck-le-ber-ry mish mash, 
Do-nuts, dump-lings, blue-ber-ry bump-lings,
choc'-late mush-mush, su-per sweet.

Clam stew, ham stew, wa-ter-mel-on wush wush, 
Deep dish rhu-barb up-side-down cake, 
I could eat a frit-tered flum.
Hun-gry, hun-gry, I  am  starv-ing!
Ta-ble, ta-ble, ta-ble  HERE I COME!
 

Day 5--I'm Starving, but Hanging on (Cue "Eye of the Tiger" Theme Music)

I just have to put this out there--I'm hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry! Oh, did I mention that I'M HUNGRY?! I could (and probably will) have a nice, boring, healthy salad, but I am dreaming about almond joys and french fries...I'm taking this as a good sign, though. If I were giving in to temptation, I probably wouldn't be craving them so badly (sorry about the adverb, but I'm blaming it--and anything else I possibly can--on the hunger). I'm looking forward to the day when I no longer crave crappy food, and the answer to a growling stomach is to munch on veggies, rather than heading to Carl's Jr. or Wendy's. I can also assume that my grumpiness is coming from detoxing, and I will one day become the more cheerful, but always snarky, girl I once was. I'm hanging in there, albeit by a thread, but hanging in nonetheless. I WILL DO THIS. I WILL!!!! I'M THINKING SKINNY THOUGHTS!!! HAHAHAHA!!!! (I may be starting to crack lol)

On a brighter note, I exercised today. It's funny, but I thought dieting would be easier than exercising. Even though right now I am flabby and out of shape, there is something rewarding about wheezing and huffing and puffing (even if it sounds slightly masochistic). I'm trying to imagine fat cells being blasted away by the huffing and puffing and wheezing. The harder I wheeze, the bigger my fat blasting gun. Maybe my hunger has made me slightly delirious, but this is sounding more and more like a kid's show on pbs..."Captain Chauntel The Wheezing Fat Blaster"....hahahaha...I'm demented :)

Day 4--Spring Break Here I come!

Today is the last day of classes before Spring Break. This year, I'm going to make it count. I have made a goal to exercise for at least two hours a day during spring break. Do I have any volunteers to help keep me accountable?

Final Draft of Poem for Revising and Editing Course

My Fond Farewell

Once the radio played the saddest song I ever heard
then it was over, and I wanted my mother back.
Once there was grandma...
and bedtime stories and songs about "Hey Diddle Diddle" and the world of Dr. Seuss
that turned into homework, books, and diet coke--always diet coke.
Slurping my way through Pride and Prejudice, I dreamed of men in breeches 
and dancing at Netherfield Hall.
I met Prince Charming, but I sent him on his way--his plastic smile was starting to crack--
I never liked Ken Dolls anyway.
Soon after, I met a real man.
Then the castle went into foreclosure and the chariot was repossessed--
It was goodbye to childhood for good this time.
So I bid the cat in the hat and that moon jumping cow a fond farewell--
I didn't need them anymore.

Day 3--The temptation of Barbecue-flavored Potato Chips

I'd just like to say that dieting (or, as some enlightened souls like to call it, "lifestyle changing") messes with your mind. I have started craving fatty foods to the extent that I am now desiring foods that I don't even like! While perusing the pantry today for healthy meal options, I happened to glance at the Barbecue potato chips on the shelf, and they started calling to me...WTF?! I HATE BARBECUE POTATO CHIPS! All of a sudden, they seemed like little pieces of Manna from Heaven, and I was roaming through the desert starving to death. Am I going crazy? Has anyone ever had this happen to them?

Story Ideas--Feedback needed!!

Okay, so I have two story ideas floating around in my head. I think they're great (of course, I thought of them, so it's not hard to venture a guess as to WHY I think they're great). I've bounced ideas off of my husband and sister, but they're a little biased, so I'm not sure that they're the most reliable sources :)

Idea 1: Dystopian Story (I haven't quite worked out some of the kinks, but have a bare bones concept right now): In order to establish control over its citizens, the government presents every young adult with a choice: they can either choose to marry someone of the government's choosing, or they can kill one person of the government's choosing. They are given one year to make their decision, and in that time, must get to know both the person they must kill, or the person they must marry.What happens when, for two people, whom they must kill or marry ends up being the same?

Idea 2: It's sort of The Divine Comedy Revisited. Dante is condemned to suffer in Hell for worshipping Beatrice, rather than God (I haven't decided yet if Virgil will be the guide through Hell, as he was in Dante's Inferno). Beatrice, of course, is living happily with her husband in paradise. Feeling bad for her part in the whole debacle, Beatrice intervenes on Dante's behalf, so that he may have a second chance at both redemption and love. He and (unnamed heroine) must travel through the nine circles of Hell in order to earn forgiveness and a fresh start. Disclaimer: I am not catholic, I just love this particular work, and thought that revisiting it in a new approach would make for interesting fiction. Although my inspiration was Dante's Inferno, this is a new work of fiction. Rather than trying to get to Beatrice, he is given a chance to move on.

Day 2--Behold the Power of Cheese?

Thus far, day two is going better...I banished the girl scout cookies to never never land (named so not for the land in which peter pan dwells, but because I am never never going to eat them again). Today's thought is about cheese--is it good or bad? I've been eating mini babybell cheese in a vain attempt to push the girl scout cookies from my mind. So, dear readers, I ask you: Which is it? I've heard both sides of the coin: Cows are fed human growth hormones, which makes its way into the milk, and then the cheese, cheese is fatty, blah blah blah...then we have the pro-cheesers: cheese is calcium, protein, helps you feel full, blah blah blah... so which is it: behold the power of cheese, or beware the danger of cheese? Could someone possibly clear this up?

Day 1--foiled by girl scout cookies

sooo, I would like to stay that day one went well--it did not. I am living proof that Murphy's Law exists.  Of course my husband brought home girl scout cookies on day one of my journey ;) Not only were they girl scout cookies, which epitomize yummy goodness, but he brought me samoas and thin mints--CRUEL CRUEL CRUEL...Will tomorrow be better? We'll have to wait and see...

Starting Weight Pictures (Before Pictures)

I really don't feel comfortable posting my weight here--I'm open, but not that open. However, I will post some pictures that were taken in the last few months that reflect my current weight. If I am successful, I will be able to post some 'after' pictures that show my progress. If I get thin enough, MAYBE I'll start posting my weight :)

It's go time!

Since I've gotten married, I've gained a ton of weight. In addition to causing my self-esteem to take a major hit, It is possible that my weight is causing fertility problems. I have decided to document my weight loss journey to instill a sense of obligation to stay the course. Since I am an English major and a writer at heart, I will also be posting various writing projects from time to time. Feedback on either my written work or my weight-loss journey are always welcome. However, please keep in mind that I'm trying to keep this journey as positive as possible. Constructive criticism can be helpful, but I'm requesting that people keep negative thoughts, comments, and karma to themselves.