Measurements, Take Three! & Other Updates

Current Date of Measurement: September 3, 2018

Previous Date of Measurement: August 1, 2018

Weight: 285 lbs --> 277.2 lbsWaist: 47.5 in. --> 46.5 in.Hips: 62 in. --> 61 in.Thighs (left): 31 in. --> 30.5 in.Chest: 53 in. --> 52.5 in.Arms (left upper): 17.5 in. --> 17 in.Neck: 15.8 in. --> 15.8 in.In red are my new measurements. The other text were my previous measurements!

Well, I know it's been forever and a day since I wrote a blog post. I'm still truckin' along as best as I can! The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of new teacher orientation, HR days, and professional developments. Not to mention: setting up my classroom, lesson planning, and trying to get through the days without freaking out.It is First Day of School Eve and I am FREAKING OUT.Normal, right?Probably, but with me it always feels like MORE.As it stands, I have dropped 16 pounds, and if I eat the way I did today, I may drop a few more. No, I'm not trying to starve myself, but nervousness plus anxiety do not an appetite make.I lost DietBet by about 4 pounds. I tried! Not doing that again though.My writing has been coming in spurts. I continue to send chapters to my Now Novel mentor. I believe that that is going well, but I feel like I'm going to slip and not write much in the next few weeks. I guess this would be normal, as I have an actual adult job now, but the urge is always there. I think the imposter syndrome is kicking in too. I think about why I'm even bothering to write. The only people that will ever see my work are my Now Novel mentor and my best friend. Why waste time?I did indulge in a Master Class with Margaret Atwood! I've watched a few lessons, and so far I love her dry wit. Slowly, but surely, I'm making my way through them.It may have been weeks since my last update, but honestly, I can't really think of much else to write about. I'm sure in the coming weeks I'll have loads to say!Ciao, friends!

Measurements, Take Two!

Current Date of Measurement: August 1, 2018

Previous Date of Measurement: July 2, 2018

Weight: 293 lbs --> 285 lbsWaist: 53 in. --> 47.5 in.Hips: 63 in. --> 62 in.Thighs (left): 31 in. --> 31 in.Chest: 55 in. --> 53in.Arms (left upper): 17.5 in. --> 17.5 in.I meant to post this update yesterday, but completely forgot about it! It has been a month, my friends, since I started this journey! A month since I began this blog! A month since I began the lifestyle changes that were long overdue! In red are my new measurements. The other text were my previous measurements.I may not have gone far in my weight loss goals, but I have made progress in other measurements! Gotta see the positive in everything right?Also, I decided to add a new measurement, because I kind of forgot about it last time:Neck: 15.8 in.I'll include the update next time!Ciao, friends!

Back At It Again

Another Monday has come and gone. At my weigh-in this morning, I found that I was down 0.8 pounds.I should be excited, right? I lost, and didn't gain!I guess after the high of the first weigh-in, 0.8 pounds is kind of a disappointment. Which brings in that little voice in my head that's called Crippling Self Doubt. Maybe I should just quite while I'm behind? The food cravings were intense today because of it.But you know, I didn't give in. I kept under my calorie count for the day.Tomorrow is a new day. Another day to stick to healthy eating, and another day to get back in the saddle of exercising. I guess I'm just going to have these days. Where it feels hard, and you get discouraged because you're not seeing results. I should know by now that weight loss doesn't happen over night, no matter how much I really want it to. Patience is the key. Patience and perseverance.It's kind of amusing the things you can be patient about, and the things you can't be patient about. This is one of those things I can't be patient about. I want that LBD tomorrow.But nothing good has ever come with minimal effort and attention.So, that's just what I have to continue to tell myself in this journey. That there will be days better than other days. That I have to be patient with myself, and to not get discouraged. That I have to persevere, even on the days and weeks where it feels like I should just binge eat everything that makes me feel better.What's that old cliche? Rome wasn't built in a day.I am Rome. The Eternal City. Birthplace of a culture and a history that has endured for millennia up to this very day. I am the Republic. I am the Empire. I am Julius Caesar. I am Marcus Aurelius.I will be patient.I will persevere.I will do this.Ciao, friends!P.S. Yet again, zero writing was done. However, my mentor over at Now Novel has sent me feedback on the first chapter of a novel I am working on. She says I have TALENT, and that she is looking forward to working with me. So, I guess, can't bitch too much about today, can I?

How Did I Measure Up?

Weigh-in today. Drum roll, please...-insert drum roll here-286.6!That's 6.4 pounds down from when I started last week. I couldn't believe it when I got on the scale! I'd say that's motivation enough to make sure I keep this up.This blog post is going to remain short, as I have nothing much else to report other than the weigh in results, and that I was back to exercising today.In an effort to get us more hours at my work place, I was given a couple of shifts at another work site in the city I work for. It's a Civil War era home, so I get to give tours and such. So far, I'm still only in training, but sure did a lot of walking today. More walking than I would normally do. My activity tracker on my Apple Watch says I had 8 flights of stairs and 2.71 miles.More mileage to add to my walk to Mordor!Made it to TOOKLAND! Next milestone is "Encounter with Black Rider." Oh boy, hope Aragorn comes to bail me out!Another milestone for me is to close ALL of my rings on my iPhone Activity app! Holla!

Camp NaNoWriMo Update: I've written about 200 words today. I'm about 3k behind where I need to be. I'm still trying to be optimistic that I will make it.Also, another note about my writing. I signed up for 1 month of Now Novel to see how it all works. It is an online platform to help you plan out and complete your novel. They even offer you, as part of one of the higher tier packages, a mentor! You get to email with them and such. You also can submit parts of your novel for critique from other users. I'm going to give it a go, and see how it is! I'll write more about this as I use it.Ciao, friends!

First Set of Measurements

Here is the first set of measurements. I will do these monthly, and weigh-ins weekly (for now)!

Date: July 2, 2018

Weight: 293 lbsWaist: 53 in.Hips: 63 in.Thighs (left): 31 in.Chest: 55 in.Arms (left upper): 17.5 in.