state of the union

Exercise:
Wednesday: none
Thurs: none
Fri: none
Sat: none
Sun: none

Not kidding. Not a lot of evidence to show that I'd like to be healthy and lose 30 lbs, huh? There is no excuse for me not at least walking. I just didn't do it. I DID eat healthy, which I'm proud of...but, honestly, I usually eat pretty healthy. I keep only the good stuff (and, I mean the GOOD stuff!) in my house, so eating usually doesn't present too much of a problem. I'm a plate finisher, though. Working on that.

So, this week I'll be focusing on climbing back on that band-wagon and setting myself up for a lifestyle that encourages time to exercise.

I've always been really interested in the raw or living food movement. It is based on the idea that we might actually need the enzymes that are in uncooked foods; these enzymes aid in digestion. Heating past a certain point denatures enzymes (kills), which is something that's been known forever. The idea is that our bodies are bogged down in all of this digestion that we make really difficult, when really, it should be much easier! This difficult digestion is thought to tax our immune systems, cause us to need more sleep than we otherwise would, make us sluggish and toxic in general. It makes sense, when you think about. I have a couple of books on it, but I've never gone all out with it. I've gotten to 50 percent raw foods, and I have to say that I did feel pretty good, but I didn't do it long engough to really tell if that is what was makin the difference. I tend to go back and forth with this, but I guess that's ok.

This week's shopping trip should set me up for about 50 percents raw again. Then, next week I'm hoping to go for 75 percent.

Like I said, eating well is not too difficult for me, as long as unhealthy things aren't staring me down and within arm's reach. The fact is, I DID eat many of my feelings to get me 30 lbs. overweight; now, I eat in a way that works decently for me, but my lifestyle is such that I'm simply maintaining. (I HAVE lost 5 overall since starting The Biggest Loser at work). So, I need to get my exercise on, even if it is walking and yoga only.

stream of consciousness

fitness stuff...So, what is up with me coming home and falling asleep right after dinner? How could I POSSIBLY be SOO exausted? I know first yr teaching is supposed to be a killer, but wouldn't it be different by now...Will this exaustion EVER go away (other than in the summer, of course!)...Looking at my diet, this makes me wonder if poor nutrition isn't the culprit. Especially for someone who's had some yuck low blood sugar issues, I probably shouldn't be going long periods of time w/o eating, and then binging on chocolates b/c I'm so starving (and there is always a teacher around me who will give up some of their stash)! I was doing a great job of planning out and preparing all of my meals, vitamins and even outfits so that healthy eating and exercise would be a planned part of my day instead of something I do when I 'feel like it,' which is NEVER. Lately, it seems as though I've fallen off of every bandwagon that I've ever been on...but, I am picking myself back up slowly...I will get there!!

I'm happy, but sometimes it seems that I barely exist during the weekdays...I'm just so tired. Maybe it is not work; maybe it is nutrition or the fact that I'v upped my exercise (SOME!) overall lately...1.5 weeks until spring break!

random stuff...Well, now it's 4am...I've been up for awhile due to one of the worst nightmares ever involving finding a bucket of brains and fingers (really!) in my closet. I was rooming with another teacher at my school (you know, "teacher-mares"), and we found the bucket together after she had been sent a letter from a man who had been in our apt. for some type of contract work...He had placed it there to 'show her what she was in for.' Sounds silly now, but holy cow, it freaked me out. In the dream I called my dad, and he offered me moving expenses and said I could live with him. How odd, in a time when I probably need to be working on my relationship with my dad (no drama, it's just that that's part of why we moved here, and teaching has kept me so busy).

getting there.

It's been a pretty good day, as far as my goals are concerned. I woke up and had breakfast with my husband at home, vegetarian breakfast burritos. Yum! Then, he stayed home and learned to play 'Waste,' by Phish, on the guitar. I went by myself and tried a new (for me) Unitarian church (although it is kind of a religion-less church). If you don't know, Unitarianism has been around forever (Henry David Thoreau, Thomas Jefferson, and later Sylvia Plath). It's a really need 'religion' that welcomes all creeds, or people who have no creed at all. There are 7 main principles:
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.It was great!

...and who can argue with that?

Back home, we went to a Unitarian Church that was very liberal and socially active. This was in a college town, so there were just all these great college professor minds, lovers of science, lovers of social causes, lovers of the earth, rabble-rousing college students and 'the betweens' that would meet over fair trade coffee in this little green-built building, discussing social, environmental and spiritual issues. They ONLY drank out of old coffee cups and ate off of random dishes, b/c they would never consider wasting resources. The children's groups learned about nature, culture, and they sang songs about Critical Thinking...Really!!

Here in Dallas, I've had a little less luck. The UU church right by us is just very different than the one we came from, although great in it's own way...I like it, but it is just a lot more formal and reminiscent of more churchy churches....So, inspite of the best of Saturday evening intentions, when it comes to Sunday mornings I usually do not go. Today, I decided to take the near 20 min. drive down to the other uu congregation, which is known as the 'most liberal' church in Dallas (which doesn't necessarily mean a lot). It is built on 5 acres, with quite a reverence for nature...a walking trail, and even a meditation labrynth. It felt almost EXACTLY like my church back home, minus a few things and plus a few others. I loved it. We talked about nature, patterns in nature, the genious of nature. It is up to me to find my niche in this strange new Southern world of giant trucks, cowboy hats and an education system that resembles fascism. Here is one tiny way that I think I've found it, and I consider it a gift.

I'd like to thank all the little people...

...that I ate for dinner, which is why I'm enrolled in The Biggest Loser at my place of work. I'm pretty excited about winning 400 dollars and have pretty much decided that the money is mine. You can go ahead and congratulate me now, b/c I'm going to win. I don't usually report fitness info on this blog anymore, as I've become supersticious about it (it started as a weight loss blog, but I've actually gained 15 (or 20?) lbs since starting it)....Now, I didn't control for all variables, I will admit....such as increased calories and carbs and decreased exercise, dating Ben & Jerry, not to meantion that I'm not getting any younger, folks.