Dinner and a Movie

Tonight, we watched a Japanese horror film called "One Missed Call". Even though I was watching carefully, and even though it was fairly well dubbed in English, I have NO IDEA what happened in this movie. People were getting phone calls from themselves time stamped about 2 days in the future. They would then die some kind of horrible death at the time the call was made. The main character (Yumi) and her kinda-boyfriend (Yamashita) spend some of their time trying to save her doomed roommate and the rest investigating the asthma death of a young girl. They suspected that the girl had been abused by her mother. More people die horrible, gruesome deaths. Then the last third of the movie is spent trying out one ending after another. It's like the director kept thinking up "one more thing!" The final plot has more twists and turns than Lombard Street. (Thanks, Mikey, for that reference.) I won't say that I hated it - there were some truly creepy scenes (if you like that kind of thing) - but it left me feeling a bit lost.

Mid-movie we stopped to make an ambitious meal - eggrolls! They are SO yummy, but they take FOREVER to make. Ours were filled with cabbage, carrots, glass noodles, and Hoisin marinated tofu. Sauteing, boiling, frying, and that's all before you even get to the wrapping and deep frying. We sure enjoyed them after all that work. Mikey made his special sweet and sour sauce, and we even had a couple of apple-cinnamon filled eggrolls for dessert.

To finish out the evening, we watched an anime show called "Rurouni Kenshin, wandering samurai" about a swordsman who has chosen a new, non-violent path. Unfortunately, it seems as though every swordsman in the area wants to use him to prove their own strength. It actually reminds me a lot of another anime show called "Trigun", except in that story it is an expert gunfighter who has repented his violent past.

It's a disease. I have no control.

I think that Submarina puts some kind of habit forming drug in their sandwiches. I am SO addicted. It has gotten to the point that they start putting the sandwich together as soon as they see my car pull up (okay, not really, but almost!). The order is always the same.

Two foot-long Combo Cheeses on whole wheat. Every cheese except the American (that means we get Provolone, Pepper Jack, Swiss, and Cheddar), lots of lettuce, and a little onion on both. Tomatoes, black olives, and cucumbers on one. Oil and vinegar on the other. Plenty of mayo (I know, bad for me, but SOOOO tasty!) and salt/pepper on both. Cut them in quarters.

Yum. I could eat at Submarina every night and be perfectly happy. Seriously.

Oh. And in case you're wondering. I have tried many times to replicate this sandwich at home. I worked in a deli making sandwiches for years. You would think I could manage. But, no. It never tastes the same. There is some kind of addictive secret ingredient somewhere (I think it's in the bread!) with which homemade sandwiches just can't compete.

Is Anyone Here?

I bet you thought I was gone for good this time. But I'm not. It's just that with my full-time school job and my part-time tutoring job I don't have much time left over for anything else: breathing, sleeping, blogging...

So, what am I up to these days?

1. Teaching - I'm having a great year, albeit a busy one. I have 30 students, each with their own abilities, challenges, and personality quirks. Despite my certainty on the first day that I was never going to get comfortable, I am actually getting to know them pretty well. They are a very helpful, sweet, TALKATIVE group. Some days it's hard for me to get a word in edgewise! There is no hope of getting them to stop. I can only hope that they will learn to focus and direct their conversation a little. As usual, the day to day workings of fifth grade keep me hopping. I am also part of the Student Success Team (extra support for struggling students) and the Caught Building Character (we rode scooters at our Friday Flag Salute last week!) program. Oh! And I am the library liaison for my grade level. I am getting to know the members of my team, and I get the feeling that we're going to work well together (lots of different personalities, all fun).

2. Tutoring - I am pleased to be able to say that we are starting the month of October with enough clients to pay the rent each month. Woohoo! I currently work 3 hours and my partner is working a bunch more. We are covering a wide range of ages (7 - 12 years old) and topics (reading, writing, math, study skills). We're having a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to business picking up enough for me to revisit my need for other employment. :)

3. Dieting - The doctor put me on a low-carb diet in an effort to control my cholesterol. Turns out I might be part of a small percentage of the human population who can eat all the cholesterol they want as long as I keep the carbs down. Just another of the fun genetic twists I inherited! I am doing better on this diet than I thought I would. If you know me, you know that I am a total Carb Queen. Mike has been working hard to keep me fed with interesting low-carb foods (he's a great cook!) and I have been exercising a great amount of restraint. There are 2 things about this diet that are helping me keep on track. First, I have very few cravings. If I smell something really great like french fries or toast, it's a struggle, but for the most part I don't really feel a NEED for carbs. Secondly, I have lost nearly 10 pounds. In the past, I have busted my butt, dieting and exercising like a maniac, without losing a pound. This time, the pounds are just melting off me. Not only have I lost the weight, but I can actually SEE the difference. My stomach, which has been distinctly un-flat since the kidney transplant, is on its way to my pre-college days. Fun!

Okay. There is lots more to tell you, but I'm not sure what it is. I will try to come back again soon. But I wouldn't recommend holding your breath. :)

20 in 20 Challenge

Ante up, folks. :)

Amy, I know you were just in Rochester trying to convince them to remove more body parts so you wouldn't have to exercise. Quite the scam you have going on there. :)

I am currently holding at the same weight from last week.

20/20 Challenge

Alright, you guys...it's time to fess up. How're you doing? I am thrilled to be back at school. The combination of running around like a headless chicken for 10 hours straight and not having enough time to actually eat anything does wonders for the diet! :) I'm down by 3 this week.

Stupid Food

I was doing very well with my diet/exercise thing earlier in the week. I was down by 3 pounds. Really, I was. Then we spent two days with various family members, some of whom feel that feeding you is the best way to show affection. (Not that I am complaining...the food was delicious.) With my seriously malformed sense of willpower, I was unable to stop stuffing myself with goodies. I am now right back where I started. I guess I should be happy that I don't have to start using improper fractions to show the amount remaining to be lost. Bleh.

If you want me to update your numbers, you should send them to me.

20 in 20 Challenge

I am quite intrigued by the idea of the 20 pounds in 20 weeks challenge. As you can see, I have added it to my sidebar. If you are interested in joining, just let me know. You can email me or just post a comment here.

I will add each participant and their finish date to the sidebar, along with two sets of numbers. The ratio will be how many out of 20 pounds you have to go. For example, I have lost 3 of my 20 so I would see 17/20. The second number (in parenthesis, like this) will show the change from the previous week. For example, if you had lost 15 of your 20, but you gained 2 pounds in the last week you would show up like this:

8.18.07 - Mr. Example 7/20 (+2)

This shows that you have 7 pounds left to reach your goal and you are up 2 from last week.

You will be responsible for weighting yourself each week and emailing or posting your results so I can update the sidebar. Let's say today is the start date, so we should update each Saturday. You can either just send your current weight (and let me do the math) or you can calculate your numbers and send me that. That way there is no comparison of weights between us. It's the progress that matters, not the actual numbers.

Speaking of what matters, please remember that we are working toward health here. Use weight loss strategies that will actually benefit you in the long run. Some things I try to keep in mind:

1. Watch your triggers. There are many things that make us 'think' we are hungry when we're not.

• Are you thirsty?
• Are you tired/bored/upset?
• Is your internal clock set going off at the wrong time?

2. Watch your intake. Many foods provide numerous calories without really being beneficial.

• Beverages - Most are heavy on the calories, while light on nutrients. Try to drink a glass of water instead. If this is a trouble area for you, make a goal of sticking to water for at least one meal.
• Snacks - It is a good idea to eat small snacks through-out the day to avoid feelings of denial or overwhelming hunger. The problem is that many handy snacks are high calorie. Try to keep fresh fruits or veggies available for snack times. And don't forget that dips will pack on the pounds quickly.
• Cut the Fat - I rely on dairy products for most of my proteins. This means I collect calories pretty quickly if I am not careful. I avoid this by purchasing as much as possible in a reduced fat or no fat alternative. You end up sacrificing some flavor, but most of the time it's not so bad. You can always save the good stuff for special occasions.
• Keep Track - This is the thing that helps me the most. Write down everything that you eat. And I mean EVERYTHING! It is amazing how many calories you ingest without even realizing it. Putting it down in a journal makes you more aware.
  

3. Watch your activity level. We eat to provide fuel for our bodies. The more active we are, the more fuel we burn. You want to lose weight faster? Get active. You want to eat more without gaining weight? Get active! I know that it's hard to find the time. Here's what I do:

• TV Time - do sit-ups or lift weights while you watch
• Get Help - Just like this challenge might help you stick to your diet, having a buddy helps you stick to your exercise plan. Make it a social event and call up your friends.
• Double Up - Mikey and I walk laps around our property when I get home. This covers three of our needs at one time - interact with the dogs, get exercise, and share the events of the day.

I am officially starting today, so get your numbers in as soon as possible. Also, feel free to make suggestions for improvement. I'm thinking maybe we should have a prize for those who make their goal? What do you think?