Inspiration and New Activities

My Art Museum date was far more fun than I expected. He was energetic, interesting, and funny, too. He has a degree in fine arts so he made an excellent guide! He dances, and referred me to a ballroom near where I work where they have beginner classes. I have been wanting to learn salsa, but I am signing on for the available beginner course starting next week which is Waltz and the Cha-Cha-Cha. I like the idea. Salsa would probably work better if I actually learn how to do some less complicated dancing first. So a second date is tentatively scheduled for this coming Saturday.

Anyway, the ballroom is so interesting to me. It's an old building, recently purchased by a dancer, and renovated. The instructors are older. It has a romantic and nostalgic mystique to it. I could literally live there, lost upstairs somewhere...they have a couple of apartments. So, I may like the idea of learning to dance, but some of it is I am attracted/drawn to that atmosphere. I must confess I am a bit nervous that I may not have the coordination/skill to learn. But I am going to give it my best shot, stretch myself, and have some fun.

I think I like dating. I am not taking it too seriously, looking to do fun things with people who have mutual interests. If anything else develops, I will take it slower than past whirlwind romances that seem to be based more on the physical chemistry than anything else. I also had a spur of the moment date Saturday night with my recent ex. I wanted to go hear live music, and needed an escort, which he gladly obliged. I had a nice time, but do not want to get serious with him again. He was going out of town for a week. We did not discuss the past or the future, just had a good time. We did not discuss relationship status, etc. Hopefully there will be no negative fall out from that. I know on my end, if I have no expectations, I won't be disappointed. Plus, I want to date Art/Dance guy now.


I am doing OK with food, better. And my exercise is regular and good. I am feeling inspired to try new things and have adventures!

Hope to have exciting weight loss updates in the near future!

All is Forgiven - MOVE ON

I am using the Our Lady of Weight Loss mantra today. Monday and Tuesday were near perfect food days, but I was a pound up on Wednesday and it really ticked me off. I went to the gym, had a great workout and then went to the grocery. I set myself up by buying a box of weight loss brand ice cream bars. I NEVER do this. And here is why, by midnight I had consumed them all. I hate to admit this. It is the first time I have done this type of thing in ages. So, I have no option but to forgive myself and move on. I will drink lots of water and have a prudish eating day today.

I have an art museum date tomorrow night and I want to feel good about myself. Comfortable in my clothes and dressed for the heat because we may picnic outside afterward. I am a little nervous, it is a facebook contact who went to high school with my sister. Not sure if it is a real date, but we have not met in person. Have been communicating for months on fb. He seems fun and I was more interested in a buddy to do stuff with so it should be low key and I need to get over my feelings of not being good enough!! Good enough for what? A walk in a museum?

So, all is forgiven, move on!!

Time for Commitment, and Adventure!!

OK, I have enjoyed a phase of eating basically what I want and not going over a certain ceiling weight. But I no longer want to be at this ceiling because it is too heavy for how I want to feel, and dress. I am ready for a commitment to positive change. And disciplined, mindful eating. I don't know if anyone reads this blog anymore, but I will keep on writing because it has been the catalyst of positive change for me since 2006!
My workouts are going well. I now have a weekly workout date with a friend who showed me new things to do at the gym compliments of her personal trainer. I am working out more often. I am walking on lunch hours and getting busy after work as well.


It's the food now. I have not even had a plan for a long time. So I am going back to lean protein, no whites, and fresh veggies. I will sketch my day's food each morning or the night before.


I am exploring more now that I work in an interesting part of the city. I am getting brave about going out and doing new things. Saturday night I went to a Brazilian club for live entertainment which included dancing lessons. It was a good workout and fun. Last night I walked in the botanical gardens with a friend. There are things to do most nights of the week, that are free and involve moving my body!! And enriching my mind, too.

So, here is my commitment to taking care of myself by planning my food, eating less and eating better. And, to new adventures!!

More will be revealed...

Life is Good

I have a "no-plans" weekend spread out in front of me and it feels so good. The boyfriend and I weren't very compatible afterall. After the initial infatuation period was dwindling the reality was we did not have that much in common, and there were some traits about him that I decided I did not want to experience. So, we were able to break it off without too much drama. At least I think so, I don't feel dramatic about it at all. It was tempting, though at first. I will continue to date but apply what I learned in this instance, and keep things light. The too much too soon thing does not work well for me, I find.

I had three good gym workouts this week. My food is pretty good, and I feel balanced. I feel acceptance and peace. I love that. I find that I have forgiven any and all of my ex boyfriends. This dating experienced showed me how much I have grown and healed in the past few years. It is truly amazing. I feel very good about myself. I also still love my job, now that is a MIRACLE!!!

I want to focus more on balance. I love the feeling. I had started to feel some anxiety with the relationship and that is how I knew it was not the right fit for me. Among other things. But now I feel ok. I took care of me, and was as good as I can be to the other person.

I planted flowers last weekend and have more to plant this weekend. It is too wet to get my junge of weeds cut, but I can drop in some big lillies I bought, and put in some containers of impatients.

More will be revealed!!

More Update

Here is a recent photo from when my boyfriend and I were at my friend's cabin on his birthday. For now I cropped him out. I love the picture because I was so happy that morning. We had a wonderful couple of days together even though we were both sick with colds and he had just quit smoking. We have been dating for almost two months now. I am getting adjusted to all the added activity. I like a balance. New boyfriend and new job at the same time - very exciting but big changes.

I needed some big changes. I feel much more positive. I feel like I have my personality back. At work I feel outgoing and friendly. I have my sense of humor back. Daughter and I go to the gym together at least once a week. I have been trying to go two or three times a week. I focus mostly on weight resistance there and get my cardio by walking on my lunch hour. I need to step it up a bit. Boyfriend likes to take me out to eat often and thankfully I have not gained weight because most of the time I make wise choices.

I am learning how to date and be myself with someone. I can honestly say that no matter what happens with this relationship, I feel fantastic about myself right now. I have come a long, long way.

Wow

It has been too long. I have been very busy with new job, kid stuff and dating. I have been maintaining my loss of about 5 or 6 pounds. I'd like to lose a few more, even though this current size is very easy to maintain, it is just a smidge too big. I'd be more comfortable with a few more inches off. My doctor again told me that I am at a good weight (perfect, he says, that's why I love him!) but I want to feel lean and I am not there yet. I have been going to the gym regularly, but last week was so busy I did not get there at all. I don't like it when that happens. My commute is much longer now so I am still adjusting and finding ways to manage my time. I listen to inspirational stuff in the car to make good use of my time to and from work.

I love the area where I work. It is alive and interesting with shops and restaurants. I also still love the job, and have now been there a month.

I have to go, though, but will make it a point to blog more. Need to get the balance. Will be working in the garden this week, putting in flowers.

More will be revealed..

Update

I have finally broken my plateau. I have lost 7 pounds and have not gained any back. This is very good. I was stuck for months and months and months. I am keeping regular gym dates. I have finished my old job and am ready to start the new one on Friday. It feels so very good to not work there anymore. Friday was my last day and it was not until today when I went to my old favorite coffee shop to relax, that it really sunk in. It was high stress right up until the very end. In fact I worked late on my last day. A couple of the lawyers I worked with did not even say goodbye. So very glad to close the chapter on that. I feel like I am getting my old self back. I am also dating a man that I feel like I can be myself with. It feels very comfortable right now. Need to run for now, errands and a gym date. More will be revealed...