I have no idea how this happened...

But I'm down almost 6 and a half pounds since I weighed in last. I'd love to say I've been doing everything right, but that's a lie, and you all would know it. I have a suspicion that the beautiful "197" won't last long (I'm serious, there has to be something wrong with my scale...), but I'm going to try to keep it around a few weeks more.

I've been struggling with my decision to not journal the foods and exercises I do. In the past, it's kept me on track when everything else has failed, and watching my progress in writing is gratifying, but I simply don't need another thing on my plate (har. har.) right now. I've got 3 discussion classes to lead, and three seminars of my own to do well in. I'm busy meeting new friends (finally!) and trying to learn my way around a new city. And also, I've got these stinkers running around the place now:

I have to spend time with these babies, right?

In the meantime, my pantry and fridge are stocked with healthy foods. My classes are scheduled so that I've got time to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner (which should really make my students like me a whole lot more...).

I still haven't quite gotten the whole gym time thing down yet. One thing at time, though, I wouldn't want to exhaust these two:


I adopted these two on Thursday. And so I don't have to keep calling them 'these two,' I'd like to come up with some names for, well, these two. Help!

Alone

Question: Do y'all do better with your diets and exercise alone, or with a partner (be it your spouse, best friend, or Weight Watchers meeting cohorts)?

I've been alone in Oxford (Mississippi, not the cool one in England) for a little over a week now, and I can't decide if I'm doing better or not. I cook healthier foods, and I have the luxury of cooking vegetarian meals now that will actually get eaten (Dustin has a toddler-like disdain for most vegetables). On the other hand, I've been considerably less active without him. Dustin was my fitness partner--we got each other to go to they gym, we took walks together, and when we were living together, we both tended to be more active with the other person there. Unfortunately, he's still in Augusta, finishing up his degree (16 months and counting!), and we've both noticed that neither of us are ready to get off our rear ends and go to the gym without the other one to go with us.

There's supposed to be a park close to my house (I haven't found it yet), but I'm reticent to go by myself. I don't know anyone in this city yet, and if I were to go missing, no one would notice. And also, I'm used to working out with a partner. It's hard for me to get motivated without someone there, sweating up a storm with me. (Excuses? Maybe. But I'm sticking with them, for now.)

So what do you guys do when you're alone and need motivation to be healthy?

But I'm Booooorrred!

Seriously, y'all. This is getting bad.*

I'm the kind of person that's in her element when she's got a ridiculously overbooked calendar. And right now? Well, it's filled, but with items like "read," "cook dinner," and "make sure you've gone over your budget for the 16th time." And I have: read. cooked. budgeted. ironed. cleaned. read some more. Luckily, my schedule will start to get busy next Tuesday (Meet the Professor! Teaching Workshops! Orientations! More Workshops!), but right now, having dental work would be more enthralling. Not that I have room in my budget for dental work. I know, I've checked 16 times.

If you guys would like to send me some work to do, I would be grateful. Even budgets, I can do those now.

I passed a park at some point this week, and I'll try to find it again tomorrow, if only just to walk around the track (a few thousand times). I mean, seriously, there's only so many times I can check to see if you guys have updated your blogs. (You guys should really consider updating more than once a day. I mean, c'mon, you aren't really doing anything important during your lunch breaks anyway, right? Right? I mean, you could really stand to write just one little extra post a day. Really. It's not too much to ask.)




*I apologize for the addition of a lolcat to this blog. But I am really, really bored. You have no idea.

Note:

If your boyfriend sends you an awesomebox (a care package), it's probably not smart to eat a Little Debbie Nutty-Buddy-Bar before you've eaten anything else.

Also, for future planning, keep a bra and small bottle of mouthwash within reach of your bed, so you'll be prepared when your doorbell wakes you up.

Told Ya I'd Be Back

And here I am, weighing in at 203.4. Okay, now that's over with: pictures of what I've been doing the past several weeks...

The final collection of stuff.

My new front door, and the love zennias. Oh yeah, we went there. 

Posing with Bill Faulkner's statue on Oxford's Square.

Celebratory Sham-Pag-In!

On the health front, I'm actually surprised my weight isn't higher. I've stocked my fridge with produces, fruit, and whole grains, and I'm already getting back into the swing of things. I spent the weekend with my grandparents, who live just over two hours from my new city, and they sent me home with *tons* of vegetables they'd picked from their gardens this summer. When I say "their" I mean all my great-aunts' gardens. My Granny was the oldest of 8 siblings, all of whom still live in the same town, and almost all of whom have wonderful gardens. I missed most of their fresh produce this season, so the stuff I brought home has been frozen for about a month, but I still figure it's better than what I could buy! I'm looking forward to their winter crops..