Downnnn!

I'm down 1.4 pounds according to my home scale! I've got too much going on today to get to my meeting, which I know is bad, but things have been building up like crazy in terms of things I need to do for the wedding and just in general around the house. I've been so busy adjusting to my new schedule that I've let a lot of things fall by the wayside.

Speaking of my new schedule, I'm loving my new job. Everyone is so nice. There is a LOT of information to learn and retain, but I had a few good reviews from our quality control people this week, which was encouraging. Basically, I take reports that doctors submit about things (side effects, hospitalizations, sometimes deaths) that occur while people are on a clinical trial medication, and I generate this whole huge report for the medical reviewers so they can all try and determine if it's related to the drug, or if it's just coincidence. I get to read some pretty interesting reports! Anyway, I know it sounds boring to most everyone, but I love the steady 8-5, they pay me well, and there are plenty of opportunities to advance. My boss is nice, and no on there micromanages. Our whole team is really cool.

Other things I just love about my job? My eating schedule has changed quite a bit, and I have a nice formula to get me from 6am-4pm. Basically, I have my coffee in the morning while I'm getting ready, and another cup on the way to work. The warm liquid tricks my stomach into not being so ravenous, plus I don't have to waste precious sleeping time eating breakfast at home! When I get to work, I fill up my water bottle, and eat round one of my breakfast. This week it's been Quaker Weight Control Oatmeal. It's extremely filling! Around 9:30-10:00, I eat some fruit. This week it's been cherries, which are probably my favorite summertime fruit. No, scratch that. I also love strawberries, watermelon and mango. All are extra delish in the summer, no? My next newest routine is to get into our work gym at lunchtime. I don't like to leave the building at lunch because then I ultimately end up spending money, but eating lunch in my cube just plain sucks, and makes the day draggggg on. So I've been going to aerobics classes that are held at 12:15 each day. So far I've tried Core Fusion and Boot Camp. The Core Fusion is mostly like a toning class that focuses on exercises that work your core, which, as it turns out, is like 75% of other toning exercises, so you get in a leg arm and ab workout. Boot Camp was a little more exhausting. We did stations, and each one had two exercises that you alternated for 20 seconds each for a total of 4 minutes. There were 10 stations. I was covered in sweat by station two. The teacher for Boot Camp was really cool. A guy, too, which I didn't think I would enjoy. He was really encouraging. He recognized that I was new, asked my name, and then made sure to periodically check in with me to make sure I was doing okay. At the end of the class, he told me what a great job I did on my first day in Boot Camp! Yay! He must have sensed how well I respond to praise!

After that is over, I shower and head back to my cube. I munch on lunch while I work and the afteroon just seems to fly by! I'm still meeting with my trainer 2 times a week after work, but let me tell you how nice it is to have the workout already taken care of and being able to head home right after work for 3 of those days each week! I've been experimenting with what to eat as an afternoon snack that is very filling but low points. I've had a few episodes in between where I didn't curb my appetite enough and came home and tore through way too much food for dinner, rendering me feeling very full and guilty. So far, I'm finding that Dannon greek yogurt, although not my favorite as far as taste, but definitely more points friendly and cheaper, is a good and filling afternoon snack for two points. It has worked well as a pre-workout snack. I also bought some South Beach protein bars that are tasty and only 3 points as opposed to some other protein bars I've tried that have been as high as 5-6 points. I'm also going to try a new idea that a coworker suggested, which is to mix a little sugar free applesauce into some cottage cheese. That sounds really good!

I subscribed to the weekend paper so I can start getting coupons. Now I just have to carve out the time to actually clip and use them! Oh, I've also been riding my bike some on the weekends not that my honey has put air in the tires and adjusted the seat. The bike is just a cheap old Schwinn, given to me by my mom when she upgraded, but it sure is fun. It's a cruiser with the wide handlebars. Maybe one day I'll get brave and ride it down to the beach. I have some practicing to do first!