Checkin in

Just wanted to add a quick update on how I've been doing with my personal challenges. Still haven't had pop or fast food. Got back on Transformation.com and working myself back into the Eating for Life diet. Diet here is used rather loosely. It's more than a diet, it's a change, or transformation, in how I eat. Rather than eating 3 large meals a day, I am eating six smaller meals throughout the day. I still have a tendency to snack, but instead of chips or candy, I have pretzels. And I am working on limiting them when I do snack. I also started up working out at home this week, using my Wii Fit for cardio and resistance bands for strength. So far, so good.

With the two hour delay this morning (Yay!,) I was able to work out already (morning are tough for me, but exercise in the morning is actually better for burning more calories (and with empty cardio, it'll burn fat since you have no calories in you yet if you exercise before you eat).

Tomorrow I will be having a free meal (meaning not something EFL) since I'm babysitting. We are ordering pizza. So this deviation is a planned one, but the rest of the day will be done well.

The best part at this point is that I have lost close to nine pounds already. Yay!

As of January 31, I decided to challenge myself in two areas that I tend to give into easily: giving up pop (soda for those who don't know what pop means) and eating out. So far, so good. I've made a couple batches of chicken and dumplings, eaten some sandwiches, and have totally upped the water intake (close to 100 oz. a day). I had eaten some chocolate dipped pretzels and a friend asked me if it was in my diet. I told him that it wasn't pop or fast food, sooo...

I'm still dealing with the side pain after a year and still no closer to answers. That's kind of discouraging. I see the doc again in a couple weeks.

I'm almost done with my next degree, although I am moving a little backwards. I have a Bachelor's in elementary education and will be receiving an Associate's in secretarial studies this spring. I'm taking my last class now. It seems that the college is working on offering a Master's in education sometime in the future. Not sure yet if I'll go that route.

One of the interesting things I will be working on in the library this semester is the website. I've not really done anything so...official. I'm looking forward to this challenge.

There are some things coming up in the next few months that's' going on. I'm planning on going to Preaching Conference this year since it and my spring break are happening at the same time. Then there will by college graduation. Then, my favorite happening will be the arrival of my niece/nephew (although from the last ultrasound, they were leaning more towards a boy). I should be in MI within weeks, maybe days, of the baby's birth. Can't wait!