Tamiasciurus

I don't talk a lot about what goes on in my life. I guess I don't really think that the little bits of my everyday existence are worthy of documentation, I guess.

I'm still on my diet, and I've lost 40 pounds. I'm actually back to the weight I was when I met the hubby, which is rather nice. :3 I fit back into twelves, which feels like quite an accomplishment! I still have another 30-40 pounds to go, but I'm feeling quite a bit better since starting it.

Things... haven't been going that well fiscally, unfortunately. I'm still working the long-term temp job, and the hubby actually got a job as a caregiver this month, but we're still fighting to stay afloat. So... I'm going back to school. Taking an online course for medical coding and billing, which should pay a helluva lot more than my current positions. And if I'm going to be doing oodles of paperwork like I do now, it'd be nice to get paid the going rate.

So.... that's what's going on in the World of the Squirrel right now. Don't know if I should update more often, but given I did the first module of my course this evening, it felt like a good time to do it.

So I kinda sorta stopped posting the foods I've had during the day because I was at work and such. Doesn't really conform to an obsessive paying attention to what I put in my body. Regardless, though, I've lost seven pounds on this plan, and feel a lot better than I have in months. So, yay!

Though last night I went off the plan for an evening. Barbecue put on by my workplace, followed by an hour of intense beach volleyball. I think I worked off the extra carbs I inadvertently put in my system, yeah?

Regardless, I'm back on plan this morning, starting with a shake and working my way to BBQ bites. It'll take a bit to get back to the ketosis, but I'm willing to work at it. I feel too good to want to stop with this diet after only a week.

Today, I started on a lifestyle change.

I refuse to call this thing a "diet," because it's really not. I'm changing how and what I eat, as well as how active I am, and what I think of myself. I'm doing this thing because, to be frank, I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, yanno?

So. Day 1.

Weighed myself in at 210 pounds. I really wasn't surprised I'd broken the 200 pound barrier; as I said, not feeling good, right?

With the beginning stage of this lifestyle change, I have to eat these "meals" I get from Medifast. Five of them a day, and a "Lean and Green" meal as well for the 5&1 plan. Now, before people start flailing at me, these aren't something I'll always and forever have to eat. It's just to get me through the fat-burning stage, and I'll be able to be entirely on normal food when I hit maintenance. As for the fat-burning, the meals are developed so that I get around 72 grams of protein a day, so while I'm burning off fat, I don't lose lean muscle, which is what happens when someone starts to yo-yo.

Anyway. Because these meals are a little odd and could taste weird, I think I'll go ahead and rate them here. It'll definitely remind me what I like, at least.

Meal 1: Eggs, scrambled.
Not particularly thrilled with them. They're bland and the consistency is bizarre (I have issues with texture sometimes, and this is weird enough to set my teeth on edge). And since I really can't add a bunch of salt to get them to taste right, I'm not sure I'll be ordering these again. Blegh.

Meal 2: Cherry Pomegranate Shake
I actually really liked this one. Reminds me a bit of a virgin daiquiri mix, only not so tart that I can't drink it. And blended with ice, it was quite tasty. Definitely going to get this again.

Meal 3: Chocolate Mint Crunch Bar
One thing I'm happy about; the "chocolate" meals on this program have so little actual cocoa powder in them that I can actually eat them. Which is all of the yay. And this particular bar tastes like the peppermint patty cookies you get from the Girl Scouts. Which I adored. This is on my list to reorder, totally. It's candy in a healthy form!

Meal 4: Cinnamon Pretzel Sticks
I was hesitant about this one, because I don't generally like pretzels. They're too salty and dry for me. These pretzel sticks, on the other hand, are relatively fluffy and flavored with cinnamon and a small touch of sugar, and they are incredibly tasty. This will be something I reorder, most definitely.

Lean & Green: Lean Hamburger with Salad
All I can say is: **omnom**

Meal 5: Ready-to-drink French Vanilla Shake
Hrm... about the same as those SlimFast shakes you can get. Not horrible, but I think I like the Dutch Chocolate ones better. The flavor lasts a little longer.

I'm also drinking ALL OF THE WATER EVAR, as I'm quite thirsty for some reason. Shockingly, though, the bloat from my girly time (yes, I'm starting this during girly-time, I'm so weird) is going down rapidly. My capris fit properly, yay!

If people want me to, I'll go ahead and make a weightloss filter for my journal. Please, let me know what you think, and if I should put this all under a cut.

Let's hope this works, eh?

ETA: And before I forget, starting measurements.

Measurements	Starting
Right Bicep	14.75 in
Left Bicep	15.25 in
Right Thigh	26.75 in
Left Thigh	26.75 in
Waist	44 in
Bust	43.5 in
Underbust	39.5 in
Neck	15.5 in

...wow, I don't think I've blogged since February. o.O

And it's really late, so don't count this as a blog post. I'll come up with something later. **waves**

So. I promised an update, and here it is. Right at the end of the year. Whee!

• Last month, I started a new position at a county hospital. My official title is “Media Outreach Assistant,” and I do everything from printing brochures to writing testimonials to taking photographs to creating ads for newspapers. Pretty much everything I’ve done before now in a job, I now do here. Which is pretty awesome, when you think of how many skill sets I’ve had rusting in my head since January.


• My husband and I are now in the process (literally, we’re bringing over a load of stuff each trip) of moving to the town where my work is. We got the keys to a nice little two-bedroom bungalow last week, and with my commuting, it’s cheaper to simply take stuff each trip than hire a U-haul. Yay for moving in increments!


• The deal with our previous apartment has finally been dealt with. Granted, it involved settling, but at least I no longer have to say the words “The Pointe” without thinking of evil apartment companies. Big yay!


• Ummmmm… I’m still married, with a wonderful husband and a slightly crazy cat, and will soon be out of my in-law’s house. Not that I don't love them, but the hubby and I are ready to be out of the house and on our own. Double yay!

I think that’s everything. Feel free to prod me if I’ve forgotten anything.

What’s up in the World of Everyone Else?

( Random Girly TMI. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. )

In non-TMI news, I've had an interview at a county hospital here in Iowa... and they want me to come back for a second interview! This time, it'll be one-on-one with the woman who'll be supervising me if I get the job!!!

So! Excited! EEEEEEEE!

Work is very slow at the moment, so I guess I'll go ahead and post while I have some down-time.

So far, Dreamwidth is shaping up to be similar to Livejournal, save that there are fewer options and it's in open beta testing. Pretty cool, honestly, as it took me a bit to get in on Livejournal back when I got mine several years ago.

Life's been pretty good lately. I got hired less than a month ago at my current job, as a receptionist and data entry person for the local CW broadcast station. Meaning I get to enter orders and, when I'm not doing that, answer phones/watch TV in the lobby. It's a little slow up front today, so whee, Dreamwidth blogging.

The new cat is doing excellently. She had her shots last Friday, and I'll be heading down to pay the rest of her bill at the end of the week, when I get paid. It's nice, having a pet again, and even better to have a cat that I can handle without my sinuses exploding. Hopefully, I can develop a bit of a tolerance to other cats by owning one that doesn't trigger me as badly.

Not a whole lot else is going on, so I'll go back to surfing Yahoo for a bit. Those of you who know me from Livejournal, feel free to friend. I may use this as more of a writing journal. Dunno yet. But at the very least, this one will most likely stay open to the public for now.

Today, the United States and most of the world watched in wonder as the first African-American was sworn into the highest elected office in this nation. It was riveting, and exciting, and no one will forget where they were when it happened.

I know I won't. I was waiting to find out if I still had a job.

This afternoon, at 2pm, ClearChannel radio terminated my position at the local AM radio station, along with three other workers. My position was the most expendable on the AM side; while I did do board operator work, my main role was as a reporter, which ClearChannel no longer needed as they are weeding out local news coverage. I was given my last three weeks' worth of pay, and a nice severance package for the next couple pay cycles.

Tomorrow, while millions of people wait to see how Obama's first full day in office goes, I will be speaking with my apartment complex, packing boxes, and trying desperately to find employment in an economy already drained to the dregs. My husband and I will be moving in with my mother-in-law, and trying to get our feet back underneath us.

I'm actually rather excited about the prospect. My previous job was the only thing holding my husband and I in the area, and now that it's gone, I see several doors opening. But that doesn't mean anything in the next couple months is going to be easy.

Since I'm currently the only person in the apartment, I've gotten very bored. Bored enough to try some baking.

I'm making cherry bonbons. Probably not the best thing for me, but they feel pretty festive. I could probably take them to work tomorrow or something.

Merry Christmas, everyone!