I recently moved into a cute house in Northampton. Here are some pics. Minus the living room I can't find a picture of that and I sure as heck am not going to get up and take one just for the blog.
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| Grad Desk |
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| Kitchen |
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| Sunroom |
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| Bedroom before curtains were hung |
Some big things that have happened in 2016- I got a promotion to my dream department, I got accepted into grad school for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I reached 60lb weight lost, and I had a big tumor removed from my uterus. And it's only May. By October, I could own a horse. Nothing really surprises me anymore.
My new job is working in the Music Vocation Department. So instead of working Residential (2pm-10pm hours) I will be working 30 hours a week (9amish-3pmish). I book gigs and work with our students that perform in the community. Perks: Salary (which is going to be great since the school shuts down every so often), day time hours, will work around school. Cons: It is only a 30 hour position. That means I need a second job. I got a second job. I walk dogs. Thrilling.
I am going to be going to grad school at Springfield College in ...Springfield. Only about 25 min away so not too bad. I am really excited to have finally found my passion, but I am not excited for homework. I set up a whole grad "studio" to hopefully get me excited about doing papers. At least grad school is all subjects I am super excited about (except psych research--I hate research--bless those that do--lookin' at you dad).
I lost weight. I peaked at 250lbs and am now down to 190lbs. My goal is 150lbs. I have been journaling for the past few years on how I did it. Maybe I will include that in here sometime. Here is a preview of what I did---People at work keep asking me what I did.
- I counted calories. Let me repeat. ALL I DID WAS COUNT CALORIES. I did not enter a gym once or work out. Should I have? Of course I should have. Exercise is essential to staying healthy and I am hoping that can be a goal I will achieve soon. I just want to let people know that losing weight really is just calories in < calories out. I see so many friends go to the gym and work their butts off, but come home and gorge on food. Sure you will gain muscle and tone up, but you won’t lose weight unless you mainly focus on the food portion.
- I started weighing myself every day. Now, even to this day I weigh myself every day. Do I recommend this for others? Not at all. Well. It depends. After weighing myself every day for almost 3 years I know my body’s weight fluctuation. I know that when mother nature reminds me that I am not with child, I weigh exactly 3 lbs more than any other day. If I weigh 4 or more lbs then there is a problem. I also know that my weight fluctuates throughout the day so I only weigh myself in the morning. If you weigh yourself every day you have to know that weight naturally fluctuates and not get discouraged.
- I kept going even when I failed. It is so easy to say “screw it” after cheating your diet. You already feel bad enough, and you turn to food for comfort. You can’t let that happen. You have to know you are in control of your body. Whoops you had a burger, bottomless fries, and a spiked milkshake at Red Robin (ugh yes). Go home and try again. Maybe next time have half a burger, a handful of fries, and share that milkshake with someone. You don't have to give up the foods you love, just remember moderation.
- I told people. Not right away, but It’s nice to have people know you are trying- it kind of gave me motivation. Have 100 doctors. No really, I see so many doctors and they weigh you every time you see them.
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| Current- I know it is not a very modest outfit, but I wanted to show off some progress forgive me |
I had surgery. Without getting too nasty- I have been having immense pain and lots of, um, iron loss. I went and lo and behold I had three tumors inside of me. Got them removed, had 3 weeks of bedrest, and I'm back in business. Ain't nothin' gonna bring me down.
Now I am going to make some sangria, grill some ribs, watch some Parks n Rec, and enjoy my Monday off. Looking forward to the students coming home tomorrow.
--Jo
