A Hard Struggle- Slowly Learning!

I am embarrassed to say that my blogging skills are lacking---I read other people's blogs all the time and am inspired by them. My situation this summer has been extremely discouraging. Although I hate math I think I am a numbers person--like how much do I weigh, how many calories is that?, etc.. etc... SO after the wedding bust of gaining weight back to my starting weight of 238 lbs. I was so discouraged that I just about quit everything. After lots of personal struggle I have decided to try things again. Throughout this past month I am refusing to weigh in except once a month. It is just overwhelming how much I have to lose. So today is the 28th and I weighed in at 224 lbs. I have really just concentrated on three things--MORE water than I can ever imagine drinking at school because I spent time living in the potty (but I'll figure that out by fall) Second--NO sugar--I mean none--I got really bad headaches at first but I have done really well the last two weeks. Third- Exercise everyday. That's it and so far it is working to help me shed some pounds and get more healthy.
I have also totally de-junked my house. I have a full crawl space under my house that has been cleaned out and all the bedrooms but mine. We have hauled off 40 trash bags and two completely full van loads of stuff to the D.I. I want to put my house up for sell in August and I think we will reach that goal. Just getting things better organized and cleaned up has helped me sleep better at night. I fight fatigue all day with Fibromyalia but the meds seem to help some. Still it is the one thing I wish I could change is how incredibly tired I am all the time. This has been a great summer of personal discovery for me. Lot's of time to think and plan.
Had fun going to Logan, Utah and Bear Lake with my son--definitely the high point of my summer vacation so far.

Marathon Week Begins!! Accept the Challenge

After the Wedding--I weighed in and had a total crying melt down. I was right back up to 232 lbs. I was so upset I have not blogged forever. Last week I got really motivated and walked a total of 18.5 miles throughout the week with a pretty constant total of 10,000 steps a day. I found out LOT's of things about myself--

1. I walk much much better when I have a book tape to listen to--and I have now found a holder for my cd player etc. However I really think that an i-pod would be great too. I will just have to decide to get one when I lose the first thirty pounds or something.
2. Socks make all the difference and shoes. I need a new pair. Anyone have suggestions on brands and types.
3. If I get up to walk before noon I do SO much more throughout the day--to the "early bird gets the worm" people this is a no "duh" moment but to someone like me who stays up reading all night--it has been a struggle.
   
4. I would really really like a walking partner that would be a similar speed to me.
5. I bought a reflective vest for 10.00 at wal-mart because yesterday evening I was almost hit by a car. I am a big target but they totally didn't see me.

SO this week-June 21- June 26 I am trying to walk a marathon in the week which is a little more each day for a total of 26.2 miles. I think that I am off to a good start with 3.8 and 3.5 miles yesterday and today .
Favorite Places to walk-- in the morning- around my Dad's neighborhood because it is a little uphill but doesn't have any curbs to fall over so I can concentrate on my book tape. Evening the high school track. In the middle of the day the fastest place to walk is Lowe's. It is air conditioned and I am never tempted to buy food there --and pretty much nothing else either. I don't stop to browse so I keep up a pretty good pace. I tried walking around in Wal- Mart but then I just want to buy stuff and that is NOT a good idea.
Really want to find some good trails in our mountains but I don't know where to look.

I challenge everyone to join me on this marathon week--walk 26.2 miles and then on Saturday spend 26.2 dollars on something just for yourself.

First Day of Summer

Since school got out on Friday I have been to three different movies- Prince of Persia, Letters from Juliet, and Shrek 3--at each and every one I have NOT had popcorn. YEAH-- I just took healthier choices in my purse.

Today we had a cookout at Grandpa Hunt's house and everyone came-that is, Jeff, Jen & Daniel, Cami & Shaun, and I ( or is it me?)
I walked 10,000 steps and I am feeling more rested from the stress of school and ready to go.
I also made another change in my purchasing today--I bought desserts I do not like. I bought two tennis rackets and some balls instead of another novel. I use to love walking the two blocks to the courts when I was a kid and hitting the balls around so I thought it would be just one more thing I could add to my more active lifestyle.
Tomorrow I conquer my yard and my dogs! Behavior I mean.
Summer is 88 days long---hopefully I can lose- 10 more pounds before school starts.

My Son's Graduation from Lehi High School

This is at the Evening In Excellence where Jeff is receiving a scholarship for $19,000 to Utah State University. Yeah Jeff!











These are just a few pictures of the graduation which takes place at BYU Marriot's Center. It was great to have both girls and my Dad there. Today is also the last full day of school for my students. I took off just a half day to go to graduation. It was lots of fun to see many of the students that I had taught at Lehi Elementary graduate today. With the end of school and the stress of moving my classroom I have not done very good on my healthy eating plan. I have been able to get in plenty of steps. On Wednesday I got 12,500 steps and I felt like my legs/feet were just bloody stumps. Today I got about 8,500 steps. Still my weight has at least not gone up. Yeah!! I really wanted to be under 220 by Jennifer's Wedding on June 12th. I will have to just buckle down and really watch what I eat. Today I finish my 23rd year of teaching--that is exactly how many years my Mom taught before she retired from Blackfoot School District. I will probably teach another 10 years because I really don't have a lot in retirement--spent it all just living! Oh well, it has been totally worth it to help my kids and family have a fun life. Onto the adventure of the SUMMER!!!!! I think I am more excited for summer this year more than EVER before.

Best Snack Food!

I love to snack. It seems I am like a smoker who always has to have things in their mouth. I have been told that it means something about my psychological past--who cares. Anyways, instead of buttered popcorn at the movies or other things like cheese or ice cream I have found a really tasty solution---it is so good it is almost like "crack" to me---just kidding--I don't even know what that tastes like. This cereal is SO good--that I put it in baggies to eat dry. It is called Kashi Go Lean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble. I also like it in my morning yogurt. Give it a try! Much better than candy.
BEST Walking Day ever yesterday-10,686 steps or 3.62 miles. Yeah another 5K walked. I have been told by a doctor that for the first two months if I can walk 10,000 steps a day and keep a calorie count of 1700 calories a day--I will meet my goal weight. After that I should be strong enough to do more weights or other things. SO that has been my new plan. Sometimes just for fun I like to visualize myself in different clothes next summer. YEAH!

Moving, Grading and Teaching STRESS

Wish List--a person to workout with.
a Walky Dog thing that I found online that you put on the bike to walk your dog with--it will be fun. Food Prep help!!! I need protein and vegis and NO more pigging out on candy.

Today I am wondering why I even started a fitness program while teaching 30 sixth graders. I have so much to do and I am moving my classroom to a new room and teaching a new grade next year. I am so swamped and I have a hard time fitting fitness and meal planning into my daily routine. I need to get organized. I am so tired all of the time. Still 225 pounds. I did do a 5K walk on Saturday with my dog Max. Then I did NOTHING on Sunday and on Monday 5385 steps. Today it is an inside day because of rain and I am going crazy.

I hope to be more joyful about fitness tomorrow.

ONE MONTH STAT's

I am not sure anyone is really reading this blog but it really doesn't matter because I am doing it for myself--to help me be accountable for my own actions and goals.
Here are some facts about my one month progress on the goal to lose--100 pounds in 1 year!!!!
Weight: started- 238
first month-225
Mile walking time- 26 Minutes
first month- 21 Minutes
Water drank per day- 8-10 oz.
first month- 32 oz average
Caloric Intake- 2200 per day
first month-1600 per day
Other Points: My knee feels better after injections. Still very tired all the time. Fibromyalgia still a problem for me. Really want to create my own walking club.