greetings from the Carribean!

Hello from St. Thomas! Well, I am sitting in my room and the ship is docked at St. Thomas. DQ and I are hanging out until we have to be outside for our excursion.

It is so, so hard to try and eat well on a cruise! I wanted to highlight things I have done well, and things I have not done so well.

Things done well:

1) worked out four times. Not as long as I do at home, but I did it. Although one day was a stretching class.
2) Taking the stairs, a lot!
3) Salad for lunch with turkey on top.
4) Drinking water before soda.

Things done NOT so well:
1) bread and butter at EVERY meal (croissant with breakfast, and a roll with lunch and dinner.)
2) dessert and cookies every day.
3) Alcohol in the form of mixed drinks and wine.
4) Diet coke – at least two or three a day.

That said, I am looking stunning in all my outfits!!!! Haha…I don’t know about stunning but I am still getting my size 16 skirts.

Today we are going Snuba’ing. I am not too sure what it is but I am actually getting in the ocean today! In Bermuda we toured around and yesterday in St. Maarten we sailed the actual Stars and Stripes sail boat. But if you know me you know I am a sun and fun girl who loves the ocean so I am oh-so excited about beach and ocean today!

I am not sure when I will write again before we get to MI.
Til then –
Mummy Qua

I need a kick in the pants

seriously. I have fallen off the wagon big time. I have the hungry horrors and they just won't go away. And I am NOT craving apples and carrots. AND...I have prided myself on NOT emotionally eating the last two months. That has all gone out the window today. Let me back track. As you know I am leaving for a cruise on Thursday. This past weekend my husband went to find his passport and guess what...HE CAN'T FIND IT!! He used it to go to Japan back in March and thought he put it away but he can't find it anywhere. No worries...no need to fret...we called Royal Carribbean and as long as he has a certified birth certificate he doesn't need one. He called his parents and had them express mail his birth certificate to his office. That was Saturday. It is now Tuesday and there is still no birth certificate. I am now officially freaked out. Not to mention that I slept in today and haven't made it to the gym. I had a good breakfast and lunch but not I am enjoying a mint mocha frappe from S'bucks (we call it Four'Bucks in our house cause everything costs four dollars!) Not exactly on the program I have developed for myself! I will just have a good dinner and hope it all balances out. The last thing I need is to get on the cruise and not be able to fit into any of my clothes!

So as I type this I have clothes to pack, an assignment to complete and cooking to do. Oh yea...and trying to remain calm about the birth certificate. And I want to eat everything in the house. Ugh...Ugh...Ugh...any words of wisdom out there?????!!!!!!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

Not doing too well!

UGH - I just can't seem to get myself motivated on the weekends. It would have been OK if I had been going every day of the school week, but I am not. Last week I think I went four times. I did go this morning but I hadn't been since Thursday. UGH. Also when I went today I only did cardio. No weights. But I did an hour of cardio - thirty minutes on the bike, 30 minutes on the treadmill.

I do have a mini-victory to share. Lands End is having a big sale right now; on line and in their stores (Sears). They have this great denim skirt. Long enough to be age appropriate but still super cute. It was 30% off so I got it. They only had a size 16 and I thought "well, I should be there soon enough!" I went to try it on and guess what...IT FITS!!!! Still a teeny weeny bit snug around my mother's belly (GUT!) but not obscene and I am going to wear it today. I am headed into Boston with a friend for the morning and can't wait to debut the skirt!

I ate OK over the weekend. It dawned on me yesterday that we ate out Friday, Sat, and Sun. Friday I didn't do too well but did make good choices at PF Changs. Yesterday we went to Outback (it was Father's Day after all). I ate way too much Bloomin' Onion and then a Queensland salad (dressing on the side). We went for an early lunch and that is basically all I ate all day. I hadn't had breakfast and was too busy packing for dinner. I snacked on grapes all evening.

Did I mention that I won't be checking in too much over the next two weeks? On Thursday DQ and I leave for our cruise. I am not sure how much I will be able to post because we will have to pay for our computer use.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

weird morning

hello. As I got up this morning it was a struggle. But I said I would go to the gym everyday, so I knew I needed to go.

As I do every Friday I jumped on the scales, fully bracing myself for a gain. I look down and see that the scale says I lost 2.6 pounds. I was floored. This can't be true!! NO WAY. So I decided to go back to bed. But I couldn't sleep, trying to figure it all out. I am STILL trying to figure it out. I think, and I will have to check, that I didn't save my weight loss from last week. My scale is digital and it keeps your info, your history for you. I tried scrolling through it all, figuring it out. The part that strikes me is that according to this, my blog, if I did indeed lost 2.6 pounds then my total weight lose would be over 16 pounds. But according to my scales I have lost a total of 14.8. So I really think I did not save my lose from last week which would mean I really lost one pound. WHEW! I don't know how. I almost wanted to gain, or at least stay the same. That way I would know I can't eat like I did and get away with it.

As I type this now I am kicking myself for not going to the gym. I may go later in the day. I was supposed to get a massage today but I can't find the gift certificate I had, so I need to cancel. By canceling same day I still have to pay half. So I am wrestling with weather or not I should just go and pay for it, or cancel. I just don't know. I am going to continue to look until the boys get on the bus.

Happy Friday -
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

I told you...

I couldn't keep up with the journal thing! UGH! So much has happened..and I am not doing well in the diet and exercise land.

Let's back track to Saturday June 7. Graduation day. I wore a Lilly Pulitzer dress. Loved it. I felt very pretty. Then I saw pictures of myself. UGH. My face is so round! Double UGH! Post graduation I skipped lunch and went right to the dorms. DQ brought me some lunch from the dining hall which ended up being mozzarella and a piece of meat of some kind. Tasty treat. Once the boarders were gone we went to a pool party. I didn't go nuts but I certainly didn't refrain from eating. I had chips, veggies with dip, chicken, salad, half a hamburger and some of an ice cream sandwich. THEN we came home to another party and I had two pieces of pizza.

I don't even remember Sunday. What I do remember is that I didn't make it to the gym. Didn't even try. Can't remember how I ate. I think dinner went well - pork and rice.

Monday - ah Monday - don't remember breakfast. Lunch was a chicken salad sandwich. UGH. I did go to the gym that morning, and drank LOTS of water. OH yea - and I had lots of chocolate. LOTS. Little bit size pieces.

Tuesday - back at the gym - I ran hard. don't remember what I ate all day. But I went and got ice cream - TWICE!! First time with a friend and the second time was a fruity shake with Holden and a friend. I only had half the shake but still. UGH. I know what I had for dinner! It was our end of the year dinner at school. I enjoyed the tossed salad, a glass of wine, an entire slab of steak, two little potatoes and an ear of corn with butter. It was a delicous!

Wednesday I got up and had a great breakfast. Skipped working out because I was headed to the Cape! YEA! But...while I was there with a friend we went out to lunch. This friend and I always get grilled cheese sandwiches when we go out, and since this was our farewell lunch we had grilled cheese AND french fries. The only snack I had all day were some mixed nuts on the way home. Dinner was chicken and a potato.
This picture was taken on the beach in Falmouth, MA (a town in Cape Cod.)

That brings me to today - I did work out, and I have decided to work out everyday between now and when I get on the cruise ship. I am going to try to get my eating back on track but today I have already had about four Munchkins. Then I had my egg combo. No toast since I already had the 'kins. I am hoping that being back in my office will help keep me on track.

I am getting all my hair chopped off today. I can't wait!!!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

dodged a bullet again!

Somehow I have dodged the weight bullet again. I lost this week - 1.6 pounds!! I was quite pleased given everything that has gone on this week.

I worked out this morning. When I got to the gym I had the attitude that hey, it's Friday, my day off, I will take it easy. Then I reminded myself that the whole reason I am working out today is that I CAN'T work out tomorrow, and if I did work out tomorrow I wouldn't be taking it easy, so I kicked it up a notch. Kind of. I ended up walking the entire time, and only for 40 minutes. Since then I have been on an eating rampage. Everything in sight - gone. Lots of chocolate. Early this afternoon I had an "a-ha" moment that I am eating and I am not really hungry! As much as I am loving all this fatty food (it is a Friday!) why am I shoveling it in if I am not hungry. So...I am slowing down. Although I just made some brownies for the boarders and they are DELICIOUS!!!

Sorry this is so short...I am on duty for like, forever, and need to get back to helping the boys pack.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

scared for tomorrow

I know I say this every week, but I am worried about tomorrow (weigh in day!). I haven't had nearly as much water as I normally have. I ate out twice. I have had five pieces of chocolate in the last two days and several candied almonds. UGH. I tried to go to the gym today with the "last chance workout mentality" but my hip was hurting again so I biked and then went on the elliptical.

Aside from the chocolate I have been eating fairly well. Really trying to keep the carbs at bay and focus on other things.

Today was the last day of school but the boarders are still here. As I type this I am on duty with my hair in rollers while I am trying to get ready for an awards ceremony tonight. I should be out there, my door is open and they can see me, I can see them, but there are parents out there!!! I will go sit at the table right now. My hair only needs nine more minutes anyway!

I will wake up, weigh in and then head to the gym. I am in meetings all day, then on duty from 1:15 PM - 11:00 PM but will grab a computer when I get a chance!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

ps...two of "my boys" just came down the hall to talk to me and didn't seem phased (fazed?) in the slightest that my hair is in rollers! :)

I can wear it!

so...as I type this I am STARVING with a capital "S." This week it is going to be very hard to stay on track. Well, what's left of this week. My lovely students are bringing in gifts - today I got candied almonds. HELLO!! I didn't open them but my office-mate opened her can. I had two and they were YUMMY. Then one of my teacher friends got a bag on Lindt Chocolate. Ate one of those without thinking. OH YEA - and I had a mini Reese's Cup and a bite size Dove bar. Those little squares. But the little adds up to a lot!!!

That said...I came home and tried on my clothes for the next three days. Tomorrow night I am debuting the SIZE 16 vineyard vines dress that has been hanging in my closet for two years! YEA! It is a little snug through the hips but not stuffed-sausage-snug, if you know what I mean! I was going to wear it for graduation but I don't think it is formal enough. However on Saturday I am wearing a Lilly Pulitzer dress, SIZE 16!!! YEA! It's weird though...I can't wear size 16 in other brands. But I will take it! I am so excited.

As predicted it was hard to get up this morning. As drained as I was last night it was hard falling asleep. When the alarm went off all I wanted to do was sleep. ZZzzzzzz. But I was at the gym by 4:45 AM! Five minute cardio warm-up, then my arms, then the treadmill. I only did the treadmill for 30 minutes and then biked for 15 minutes.

Except for all the junk I mentioned earlier I have eaten well today. I had a Carnation Instant Breakfast for breakfast, a salad and half a PB sandwich for lunch. Dinner is going to be a grilled chicken salad. Hmm, hmm good!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

I am so glad today is almost over

It has been a long, frustrating, stressful day. I had a meeting in the AM that I thought was just going to be a short wrap-up from an incident a few weeks ago and it turned into a forty minute bitch session. Needless to say it wreaked havoc on my day. BUT - I am proud to say that I did not resort to eating as a way to cure my pain and frustration. In fact, given how I felt today, I ate very well.

Maybe that was because I had such a good workout this morning. I can actually move with ease today which is a relief. I also set my alarm five minutes earlier so I could stretch a bit. I am not one who normally stretches but I guess I need to. So I stretched, cranked on my five minute cardio warm up and then went and worked on my legs. Upped the weights on some, felt the pain, and then decided to run/walk today. I did my first three minute walk and then started the two minute run. I felt so good at the end of two minutes I decided for three, then four, then before I knew it I had been running for seven minutes! I only stopped because I didn't want to injure myself. For the next twenty minutes or so I walk/ran but then with seven minutes to go I ran five and walked the last two. I felt so good!

I ate really well today. As I mentioned before I went to PF Changs with my advisees. I had one chicken lettuce wrap and then ordered myself a chopped chicken salad. Dressing on the side. It was actually really, really tasty. Then we went to a chocolate bar. Mmmm, Mmmm, good! I purchased one little square of chocolate and inhaled it right there at the cash register. Then I bought a bigger piece for Friday. It is on my dresser now. I can't wait to eat it!

Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.
Tonight is my last night of duty!!
til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

40th post - WOW!

this is my 40th post. I haven't kept a journal this long since 1991. I was a nanny in England and I think for the first three months there I journaled almost everyday. But not since.

made it to the gym A-OK today. It is weird going on Mondays. As you know I skip Friday's and then work out at home on Saturday and Sunday. By the time I get there on Monday I feel like I have been gone forever.

I worked my arms and then biked for thirty minutes while watching more "Everest" shows. Then I did the last fifteen minutes of cardio on the treadmill. Walked three, ran two. My legs did not feel like they were attached to my body. Seriously. They are still really sore from my work-out Saturday. When I was running, though, it felt good but I felt like they were someone else's legs!

The school year is winding down and I fear it is going to get harder and harder to eat well. Tomorrow night I have an advisory dinner at PF Changs. Thursday night is dinner duty. Friday night is the 9th grade banquet and Saturday night is a party. I will try to stay close to the veggie platter at all times.

I don't think I am going to skip working out this Friday. I can't workout at all on Saturday so I think I will go on Friday, after weighing in, and then again on Sunday. I was looking at the class schedule for the gym and I think I am going to try a class or two next week. The 6:00 AM class that is. I don't know...I fear if I make any changes then I won't have as good results as I have been having. That said I think I heard somewhere that you need to change up your work-out every now and again to keep your body from becoming complacent.

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.

ouch - I am sore today!

ok - something I did yesterday has made me sore, sore, sore. I did lunges and squats yesterday and ended with my biking and walk/run. So I am not sure what exactly did it. But it is 7:45 PM now and I can barely move. The weird thing is it is just my lower body. My upper body isn't sore at all. I even did bench presses...I don't think I have ever done those before. OUCH!

Today has been a so-so day. Pre-church breakfast was a yogurt. Brunch was half a Belgium waffle and some bacon. Every Sunday my school has make your own Belgium waffles and bacon. They aren't huge waffles, and I only had half. I did use two pats of butter but just sprinkled on the syrup. I didn't have lunch and my afternoon snack was baby carrots and grape tomatoes.

I did a pseudo-workout today. I call it pseudo because I only did 35 minutes of cardio and it was biking around here. I did a rezzy but it KILLED. My quads were screaming with each hill. The rezzy only took about 15 minutes so I did laps around a cemetery. Yes, cemetery. It is within walking distance of here and is great to ride through. I actually know of some people buried there and it is certainly a place for quiet reflection.

Post workout the family went to PF Changs. Yummy! I had one Thai lettuce wrap, one Peking dumpling and I ordered salmon as my entree. It was a big piece but it wasn't cooked enough for me so I didn't eat it all. The glaze was delicious. It sat on a bed of brown rice and asparagus. I tried to eat the rice with chop sticks so I wouldn't eat so much. Came home and had a Skinny Cow.

I am headed into the last week of school - who-hoo!! It is going to be a long hard week!

til tomorrow -
Mummy Q.