Food Sheet Day One

I did it! I actually did it. I filled out my first food sheet and I was totally truthful. It wasn't as bad as I thought. As a matter of fact I actually ate better yesterday than I had in ages. I guess it's the food sheet. I made believe that I was sending it to Richard so I was really very good for the first time in a long time. I even went back to weighing and measuring my food. Wow! The power of the food sheet (and the power of Richard Simmons). Let's see how long this lasts. :)

The podiatrist appointment was not the most pleasant thing in the world but at least now I know whats going on. Not only do I have Plantar Faciitis but I also have a heel spur and bursitis not to mention a fungus on my big toe. I had an X-ray and an ultrasound. Dr Tanner was a very nice guy until he attacked the side of my heel with a needle filled with cortisone. It didn't hurt at the time but it's hurting now. He says I should be feeling better soon but not to expect to be better today so I'm aiming for tomorrow. I am still having pain this morning. I have to go back next Monday to do it again. Oh yay! If this doesn't help then we will talk about custom orthodox and if that doesn't help then we talk about surgery. Not a discussion I want to have. Nope. Not at all.

I am going to finish up my coffee, start today's food sheet and hop on the rowing machine and see how bad it is. If I have time before work I will do some strength training and off to work to start my two weeks of working hell.

It pisses me off that I'm going to miss the Australian Open tennis match. I hear Andy Roddick beat Novak Djokowic. I have to see how Kerry's husband to be, Roger Federer did. I hope he won. LOL

The Podiatrist And Food Sheets

I have the podiatrist appointment at 9:00 this morning. I hope something can be done for my heel pain so that I can exercise again. My weight is skyrocketing. Not good.

I got the rowing machine from my brother the other day. I haven't been on it yet. My plan is to try it out today after my doctor's appointment. I hope I don't hate it as much as I remember hating it the last time I did it. I plan on setting it up in front of the TV which I'm hoping will help pass the time. Maybe I'll put some Paul videos on. It's always nice to watch young Paul singing My Love or Silly Love Songs. Yeah, that should help.

On another note, I was reading my fellow Fabbie Laura's blog and once again she mentioned that she fills out Richard's food sheets which mimics a food diary. She has always said that it helps her look at what and how she is eating. I have never been one for food diaries. Maybe it's because I don't really want to see what I am eating in writing or maybe I'm just lazy but either one of these two reasons is not good enough. I have to do something to stop the upward trend in my weight. I've made a momentous decision. OK, maybe not momentous but a decision none the less. I am going to download some of the food sheets from Richard's website and fill them out for a week and see how it goes. I probably should have picked a different week because my work schedule is going to be crazy for the next two weeks. One of my co-workers is going away and I have to fill in. Crazy week or not I am going to fill out some food sheets and really look at what I am eating. Maybe I really don't want to know.

Back To Real Life

Kerry's gone and life sucks again. I was saying to Pat this morning that it's like I have a hangover for a few days after she has been home for a long time and then leaves again. I have weird dreams like last night when I was dreaming about shopping in Neiman Marcus with the kid and getting into a fight with some lady over jeans (this actually almost happened) with Rigby being there. Just strange thoughts and dreams. When I look at them closely I can see that it's all about missing her and wishing we were geographically closer. The story of my life. Wishing I was geographically closer to people that I love.

I am about to get ready to go to the track and power walk. I'm going to try to increase my 3 miles to 4 but I'll see how I am feeling after 3. I have to work tonight and it being the first of the year I'm sure I will be very busy. I'm also sure I will be standing on my feet most of the night so I don't want to overdo. My foot is feeling better and I don't want to ruin that.

When I get back from the track I will have breakfast and then do some laundry. I am also going to work on my nonfood related goal for an hour of so. This will help me keep my head out of the fridge. By that time it will be off to work. I won't get home until after 8:00 tonight. It's a long day. Yep, back to real life.

What should I do today?

Work, work, work. It seems that's all I have been doing lately. I have been working doubles now for two weeks and I'm ready to collapse. I haven't been able to get to the track in the mornings because I have been working. I haven't been able to get to yoga because I have been working. I haven't even been able to see much of Pat because I have been working. Oy Vey!

I finally have a day off today. Yay! OK, now, do I go to the casino or do I go to Juliana's 3 hour workshop? Well, after thinking about it I have decided on the workshop. It's been over 2 weeks since I last practiced yoga and I definitely need it. I also committed to this class a long time ago and it wouldn't seem right to blow it off to do something as shallow as spending my hard earned salary in a money sucking casino. Oh, alright, yeah, I'm shallow. If I hadn't already paid for the workshop I would hit the Isle casino in Pompano Beach.


Looking at the above picture makes me think screw the workshop, go to the casino. LOL! I am going to be strong today and keep my word to Juliana and the cosmic world. I'm sure I'll be happy that I stuck to my yoga guns today.

I also have tomorrow off but if Kerry has her way we will spend the day digging through the sale racks at the Town Center Mall again. This kid never gets tired of shopping. It's too bad there isn't a shopping section on the MCAT or she can't chose shopping as her specialty in med school. We'd all be rich. :)

Actually, thinking about all of this, I got a promotional mailing offering me $10 free slot machine play on Tuesday and I may actually have the morning shift off. Hummm...wait...is the offer at the Isle or is it for the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek?



I get entirely too many gambling mailings. I guess the word is out about me.

Claudia's Book Club

I have allowed myself to be addicted to television for most of my life. The first thing I did in the morning was turn on the TV and I would leave it on the whole time I was home. It had occured to me that I should find something else to wake up to. I was tired of all the bad news that comes out of the TV. Unhappiness, war, death, violence, disease and cruelty are all things that seem to emanate from this box and I was tired of starting my day thinking about these things. I decided to spend the first hour or so of my day reading uplifting books and writings as opposed to sitting in front of the "idiot box" and listening to it spewing it's venom.

I really didn't know which books would help me to start my day on a happy note so I turned to the most enlightened person that I know. Juliana, my beautiful yoga instructor. I had heard her say that she doesn't watch TV because she when she does have extra time she reads happy uplifting books. This statement stuck with me so I asked her what book she thought would be a good book to start with and she told me to read a book called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. She had a copy of it and she lent it to me knowing that it would be perfect for me in my present state of mind.



In talking with Juliana during my private yoga practices I had told her that I was very unhappy with my job. At the time I was working in real estate doing corporate rentals for staffing companies. It was a very stressful job. I spoke about the constant cancellations and changes that had to be made with every deal that was done. I felt as if I was putting forth all of my effort in knocking my head against a brick wall. I complained about my job constantly but didn't have the courage to change it. I was stuck in a cycle that went round and round. I went to work. I hated what I was doing. I complained about it and then I did nothing to change it.

I took Juliana's book home and the next morning I reached for this little book instead of turning on the TV. I sat and read in the silence of my home. I was blown away by this book. It was the story of a simple shepherd boy named Santiago who gave up everything to go on a journey to find his "personal legend". It talked about how omens showed themselves in his life and how he learned to recognize them and act upon them. This book really spoke to me. So much so that I told Pat about it and he read it.

After reading this book I knew that I needed to change my work situation. I didn't know exactly what I was going to do but I knew that I had to do something so that I could find my own personal legend. I started looking in the classifieds and also online when I came across the website for the Curves For Women gym that was located right around the corner from my house. I clicked around the site and saw that they were looking for a person to help train and motivate the ladies that go there. I knew right then that an omen had showed itself and it was up to me to recognize it and act upon it. I emailed Curves that day and found my new job which I love. I am much happier and I am proud of what I do when I go to work.

I am still on my journey to find my personal legend but I feel that I am much closer than I was. I will continue to spend my mornings reading uplifting and enlightening books like The Alchemist. No more mornings in front of the TV for me. Read this book and maybe you, like Santiago, will find your personal legend.

Office Politics

Oy vey, it's starting already. I work with two other people. One is Lisa and she is the owner of our Curves. She is very nice but also expects things done the way that she wants them done. Now, believe me, I have absolutely no problem with that. I happily do what she tells me to do. Lisa has told me many times that she is very happy with me (no applause, just money). She has also told me that the ladies love me. They find me very happy and motivating. I love to hear that. It makes me feel like I am doing something worth while with my career.

I also work with Michelle who is the gym "manager". She is the one who I had to interview with before I got to Lisa and was offered the job. She takes care of all the insurance issues and does lots of the paperwork required for the club to run smoothly. She has a very strong personality which does not bother or intimidate me. You know me. I just let it roll off my back. I don't let things bother me and I don't cop attitudes. It's just not my style.

Lisa is supposed to work with me on my Tuesday and Friday night shifts but as she has become more comfortable with me and my work ethic she is not afraid to leave me alone at the club. She has also been giving me a few more hours here as she has a small child and sometimes needs some extra time off. That is what happened yesterday. She had me work both the morning and afternoon shifts. Yep, I am tired but happy to do it as things like Pat's $1700 re-root canal happen and every buck helps.

I work on Monday nights with Michelle and lately I have been getting a strange vibe from her. She has been kind of cold towards me or at least that's what I have been thinking. It occurred to me that she was not happy that I am working out as well as I have. I think that my natural ability and feel for this job has taken her by surprise and she may be feeling somewhat threatened. I have also been told by many of the members, old and new, that they prefer to come on the days that I am there. They like my style better than Michelle's. Maybe she has heard some of this too.

Last night when Lisa called to tell me that she would not be coming into work she seemed a little talky. She told me that she had given Michelle instructions that last Monday night she wanted me make some telephone calls to the members that have not been working out lately and to invite them back. She told me that she wanted me to do this job because she had heard me on other phone calls and felt that the ladies would respond to me better than to Michelle. Of course, I didn't know any of this. I just did my usual thing and thought everything was fine. I did notice that Michelle was on the phone all Monday night but I really didn't think anything of it until Lisa talked to me about it yesterday. She said she thought that Michelle was feeling threatened by my presence. I guess she is beginning to fear for her job.

Lisa also told me that she wants me to learn the computer system. She wants everyone who works there to be able to work the computer programs. I got the feeling from her that Michelle is not happy about that either. I think she is more comfortable keeping me in the dark about some of the things that she does. I told Lisa that I would be happy to learn all about the computer. I enjoy computer work and Lisa already knows that I am computer literate.

I really hope this situation works itself out. All I am doing is trying to do the best job that I can while I am there. I am not looking to squeeze anyone out because I'm not looking to work full time anyway. I am perfectly happy with the part time hours that I have now along with the few extras that I pick up along the way. Lisa already offered me another night and I turned it down. I want to be able to spend time Pat when he gets home from work. If I am working four nights a week I would not be able to do that. I told her that I would like some day hours if they became available but I was well aware that Michelle worked most day hours.

I really love the job. It's perfect for me right now. I am extremely happy motivating people to reach their weight loss goals and making them feel better about themselves. I am proud of what I do. I just hope that the office politics don't come to bite me in the butt.

Being sick sucks

I woke up Wednesday morning not feeling well. I was sick enough to call Juliana and cancel my private yoga session. You know that I must have been really sick to do that. She was very understanding considering I gave her less than an hours notice that I was cancelling. I layed around in bed most of the day in hopes that I would feel better the next day.

I woke up yesterday feeling worse than I did on Wednesday. That blew off another yoga practice and once again I spent the whole day in bed. I drank tea, took aspirin for the aches and pains and curled up with Rigby. Once again I was hoping that I would feel better when I woke up today. Well, that didn't happen. I am still feeling pretty crappy. I have a headache, my throat is sore and my nose is clogged and I can't breathe too well. Someone get the Afrin.

The main problem with being sick is that with nothing else to do I find myself with my head in the fridge. You would think that not feeling well I would not have any appetite. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I have yet to be too sick to eat. The last two days have been horrible eating days. I need to get back on track with my food.

Work just called to see if I could come in this morning. Michelle didn't recognize my voice. She thought I was a man. Well, that's not good. Too bad. I could have used the extra hours. I am on the schedule for tonight so I am going to hang out in bed this morning and hope that I am feeling better later on in the day.

Next year I am getting a flu shot. Being sick sucks.

I'm a hit!!

So far, so good. Although yesterday was only the second day at my new job my bosses seem very happy with me. They have already increased my hours this week and I have gotten compliments from both the owner and the manager of the club. The clients seem to like me too. I'm happy to say that not only have I found something that I am good at but something that I love to do as well. This is a welcomed change in my life.

My clients are very interested in my weight loss but at the same time disappointed when they hear that I did it the old fashioned way. Diet, exercise and positive motivation. That is the one thing that they don't want to hear. They want to hear that I took a pill, drank a shake or wrapped myself in plastic wrap, went to sleep and woke up the next morning with a 95 pound weight loss. When they hear that there is no magic potion I get a collective groan that radiates around the room.

I remember looking for the fast working gimmick when I was losing my weight so I understand the mindset. Of course, we all know deep down in our hearts that losing weight takes constant attention, willpower and motivation but I guess we can't help but hope that something easier than the dreaded portion control and exercise is out there waiting for us to discover it. The truth of the matter is that easy weight loss doesn't exist. It takes hard work. Every day. That is the reality of the situation.

Reality bites. It really does but we need to keep a happy, positive attitude and do what what we know needs to be done . If we do that the weight will come off. The longer we look for that easy weight loss method that isn't real the more time we waste. I'm done wasting time. I hope my clients are too.

Curves Nerves

I start my new job at Curves today and yes, I am nervous. I guess a little bit of nervousness in this situation is a healthy thing. After all, it's not every day that you start a whole new career. I will be in a new place meeting lots of new people who will be looking to me for help and motivation in losing their weight. I'm thinking this must be what Richard Simmons feels like sometimes although you would never know that he is nervous, if he gets nervous. I, on the other hand, am obviously nervous. Palms sweating? Check. Stomach flopping? Check. Negative thoughts? Check.

Negative thoughts are a no no. We will have none of that. After all, this is what I have wanted to do ever since Richard jumped into my life and helped me lose 95 pounds all those years ago. He taught me that I could do it if I just stuck to his 3 part program. Exercise, correct food portions and positive motivation. Yes, I said positive. No negative thoughts were allowed. I looked in the mirror every day and said the upbeat things that Richard taught me to say like "you can do it" and "you are worth it". Positive thoughts helped me then and they are going to help me now.

I am so going to succeed at this new job. I am going to find happiness and self confidence there. People will be thrilled to have me to motivate them and help them stay on track. I will make new friends, feel better about myself and have a little extra cash. Now that's positive stuff.

Wish me luck.