On My Mind...

Just some things I've been thinking about:

1. If I could give the world just one gift, it wouldn't be world peace. It would be the power to create a professional PowerPoint presentation. So few people can actually pull this off. If you ask me, that skill in itself could change the world.
2. As much as I despise running, there's a very Zen element to it. Like yoga, where the teacher always tells you to "honor your body as it is today." I'm learning to tell where my limits are that day and whether or not I can push beyond them. I'm starting to know the ebbs and flows of my endurance. Kinda cool.
3. Related to the above, I've decided what to do with my first million (you know, when I win the lottery I never play). A massage therapist on my personal payroll. I can't think of any better way to spend it.
4. The problem-solving skills I learned in graduate school don't apply in all situations, sadly enough. Like many of the other things I learned in grad school that don't have real world applications...I wonder if my brain has the capacity to retrain itself? Hopefully.
5. I just realized today that my 5 day weekend is a mere 11 days away. I think I can, I think I can.

Next time? A real topic.

The End of Every Tunnel Needs a Light

Bribes work well to keep me motivated...So, as I reach mini goals during my healthy lifestyle/weight loss mission, I've been gifting myself with little odds and ends. This was my -10 lb. gift:

Not the whole bed unfortunately, just the quilt.

But, I'm thinking if (no, when, not if) I reach my ultimate goal of -50 lbs. I should treat myself to a really, really big present:

I'd like for Louboutin to be the light at the end of my tunnel!!! Whatever keeps you motivated, right?

Working It Out

I've occasionally (perhaps frequently) bitched on here about my weight and the fact that it seems to rise far more easily than it falls. Well, whining no more. I'm going to do something about it. I'm tired of seeing pictures of myself and being disappointed with the way I look.
Conveniently, one of my favorite bloggers, Ashlee of Ash Is Fit and A Year in the Kitchen is hosting a 20 lbs in 20 weeks challenge. She's 20 lbs away from her goal of losing 100 lbs. Her story is incredibly inspirational (seriously, check out her blog!).

I'm actually modifying her challenge for my own purposes...My goal is to lose 1.5 per week, putting me at -30 lbs by the end of the 20 weeks. All in all, I'll be doing my weight loss program for 34 weeks, hopefully putting me somewhere around -50 lbs by the beginning of November. All the better to be looking good for my birthday!

For some reason, I don't feel like this is just a ridiculous idea that I'll get sick of a few days or weeks from now. I feel prepared...Got places to record exercise calorie output and food calorie intake. I have my personal "equation" (no more than 1400 calories in, at least 500 calories out above my regular metabolic rate). I've got support from Ash and the other 60+ people who have signed up. I'm making this my mission for the next 34+ weeks! Wish me luck (or better yet, join in!)