On you mark...get set....

Ok so, I'd love to say I've been busy. It would give me some sort of reason for not posting. In fact, I have not been busy. Not even remotely. I'm hoping that's gonna change.

I've decided to take this blog in a different direction. (not that a few posts were a starting point in any one direction.) Justin gifted be with a wii fit, just after christmas, this year. I started out strong. I lasted all of 3 weeks. I dusted the sucker off earlier this week, and whoa nelly...

Justin was in DC last weekend, and I ran out of productive things to do. I was blog surfing, and came across Bikini by 30. She mentioned a contestant on the Biggest Loser, so I checked it out on Hulu. Normally, I abhor reality tv. I really really do. I watched a few episodes. I cried at the parts edited to encourage you to do so. I finished my snack. I got ready for bed. I tossed and turned more than usual. I woke up tired, sore and cranky. Yet...see where I'm going with all this?!?!? I've decided enough is enough. I'm going to tone my tush so to speak.

My first thought was to throw out all of the evil foods in our house. Justin would not be pleased. Money is tight... really tight. I got laid off a few months ago. We're living off of his student loans. So, while I'm home everyday I might as well do something good for myself.

I've tried losing weight before. I self-sabotage and eventually end up gaining more than I lose. I've been up and down again and again since childhood. I'm the happiest when I'm thin. I have way more self confidence. So I'm going to get back to being the me I want to be.

I didn't start on a sunday. I didn't give myself enough time to get used to the idea (which also means I didn't give myself a chance to enjoy a final junk food filled extravaganza.) Just to make it really difficult; I quit smoking, and I'm PMSing. I figure this way it's only gonna get easier.

So, back to the wii fit. That nasty little device let me know I'm 260 pounds. Two-hundred Sixty pounds!!! I'm only 5'7. I saw that number, sat on the floor and cried. After a few minutes, concerned looks from the spaniels and a few puppy kisses; I got up and exercised for 10 minutes. I'm starting out slow. I did the math calorie-wise. As long as I eat less than 2600 calories a day I will lose weight. For the first few days I exercised 3x a day at 10 minute intervals. Today, I did a full 30.

My 27th birthday is next tuesday. I think that will be my official start date. I'm compiling healthier recipes. Justin is off again this weekend. He's headed to Michigan. While he's away it's a little easier to eat better. He has the ability to eat just about anything and stay slim. When we started dating 6 years ago I was 135 pounds. It is totally my fault that I've gained so much. I allowed myself to eat whenever he was eating. Ugh...boys. *sigh* Anywho. The past is past. I'm trying not to focus on the future. I've only got today. It's a lot easier to stay in control when I don't worry about how I'm going to do tomorrow. I'll be back hopefully this weekend. I'll put up measurements. I'm hoping to get enough courage to do photos. I don't have an audience as of yet, but I'm hoping to get some support. I'd prefer to avoid negative comments, because fat or not I still have feelings. I'm only accountable to myself, but an encouraging word won't go unnoticed.

My ultimate goal is to be 145 by 30. That is a loss of a little more than 3lbs a month. I'm sure some months will be more and some will be less. It's possible to meet that goal in under 36 months, but ideally I want to make lifestyle changes and not push myself until I quit. This way I won't freak out if I end up eating nothing but mashed potatoes and gravy during a holiday. The number isn't as important as size. My favorite clothes are size 9/10. I have designer shoes that no longer fit, because mah feets got fat. Well... here I go!

Hello My Name is...

Yeah yeah two posts in an hour.  I just thought maybe you'd like to see who I'm talking about when I write theses thrilling labor intensive posts.  Here we are.......(drum-roll please)....

Hello   I'm looking at you askance.  So is Justin.  He's just had a few more gin and tonics.

The countdown begins. dum dum dum

There are only a few weeks left until graduation.  I'm starting to freak out a bit.  I'm putting the finishing touches on the resumé, and hoping that some one will take pity on me and offer me a job.  Any takers?  Often spastic girl looking for any job that doesn't require the selling of souls.  Speaks French and sign language.  Good cook and shopper.  Please inquire by email.  

Seriously, it will be nice to be done, if only for awhile.  I haven't decided about grad school.  I really need to pay the government back their money first.  They're probably thinking of putting a hit out on me.  So, the plan... Find job---> hemorrhage money---> grad school---> accrue more debt----> Rinse and repeat. 

I tried for all of five minutes to come up with a pseudonym for my significant other, and I really want those five minutes back.  So his name is Justin.  Good luck tracking us down with that tidbit of info.  Anywho, Justin is in law school.  He's headboy.  (we're all very proud)  He's thinking of transferring to the University of Michigan.  We'd be moving in the fall.  I love Ann Arbor.  It's a great little town.  It's closer to my family.  It is further from his mother.  I have a bunch of friends there.  All of these as Martha would say, are Good Things.  

It's almost spring.  I'm starting a new chapter.  Excitement all around.  

I've been thinking a lot about what I want out of life.  I'm blaming a lot of this on still being young, but I've been thinking too about the material aspects.  Yes, of course I want to be happy, hospitable, and loving.  But over the past three years I've been drawing up plans for a dreams house.  More aptly a dream estate, as it includes a hobby farm.  I'll be the first to admit it's awfully grandiose, but it's my dream and it gets me through the doldrums.  I'd like to get some of the drawings I've done up here so I can get some feedback.  I'm not entirely sure about things like placement of waterlines, fences, and the practicality of some ideas.  I've been planning and drawing, and researching this like most girls do weddings.  Very little has changed with my idea of the actual house.  I have absolutely no idea if it will ever pan out, but I'm hopeful.

I've given a lot of thought to what kind of animals I'd like to raise.  I'm thinking I'd like a jersey cow, a handful of babydoll sheep and miniature nubian goats, Rhode Island Red and Wyandotte chickens, some guineas, pekin ducks, and embden and sebastepol geese.  I'd like to have them multigraze as much as possible.  I've read big long lists of plants that are poisonous to sheep and goats.  Does anyone know if they'll avoid things that aren't good for them.  Like acorns?  If you're using goats to clear brush from the forest, how on earth are you supposed to keep them from acorns?  And that old song about mares and does eating oats?  By all accounts ivy is poisonous to lambs and kids... I know every farm has losses when it comes to livestock, but I'd like to avoid poisoning them if I can help it.  

new beginnings

I've ditched the old blogs, or rather they've ditched me.  You actually need to log in more than once every five years.  Does anyone actually remember where they've left post-it notes with passwords scribbled on them so many years after the fact?  If so, would you like to organize my life?  I'll be your best friend.  

I'm finally coming off my mommy-blog kick.  I'm a loyal follower of several.  I'm not even a parent, and I'm amazed how fast some of these kids are growing up.  I still ooh and ahh over well photographed nurseries.  I swear to God I hear a damn clock ticking when I see itsy bitsy baby clothes.  My neighbor just had her baby, 2lbs 5oz, at full term?  I knitted him a hat.  He's the smallest thing I've ever seen.  So, I'm trying to avoid the baby kick.  I do like to sniff their heads.  I'm the crazy lady who makes funny faces at your kid in line at the grocery store.  I love to see little kids laughing.  All my real life friends think I don't like children.  We're still at the age where careers are supposed to trump family.  I quietly agree that it's hard to find a job right out of college, that we don't want to settle down and sacrifice our freedom.  All the while really wanting to have a hobby farm, cook, craft, and raise babies.  I'm all for feminism, but isn't it still my prerogative what I do with my life?  I'll be damned if I can't be smart, well educated, and still want to be a housewife.  I'm gonna figure it out eventually.  So I guess this is my official de-lurking entry.  I'm back on the blog horse.  I'm going to add you all to my blogroll now.  

Cheers!

I'm Em by the way.