New Weight Loss Plan - Again!

I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted anything. Time really does fly. What doesn't fly, it seems, is weight loss.  As of today, I weigh more than I did since the last time I wrote about starting a weight loss plan. I was somewhat successful with my last plan, but I think the compliments got to me and I relaxed and here I am, again, back where I started, further back from where I started.  My weight now is what it was when I was heavily pregnant with my third baby. Sure, I've made bad choices, but I've made some good ones too. However, the consequences of my bad decisions are always quicker to make themselves apparent than my good ones.

Anyway, I'm back again and this time, I hope I'm able to make a complete life change. Mainly, I'm reducing my food portions, trying to cut back on soda (very hard to give up on Coke, very hard) and managing to do some exercise. In February of this year, I started walking about a mile every morning in February. Then a bad time of the month threw me off in April, or was it March??  I then tried to get that excess weight off just by controlling my food portions. I entertained the idea of actually counting calories but that sounds so tedious.(Check out this person lost 25 pounds in one month by counting calories) I figure I may eventually get there by the time food portion reduction gets those first few pounds off. Nothing significant has happened though, I'm yet to lose a stable five pounds.

I've never been one to exercise as routinely or as dedicatedly as I should but desperate times call for desperate measures. Having no success losing weight by just  controlling food portions, I started doing some exercise, some kickboxing here and some Pilates there, but I guess I didn't do enough to make a difference. I did notice that my movements got more fluid overtime, it got easier to bend and climb stairs.

I have added something else to help me on my journey to the slim me, the me I see in my head, not the me I see in the mirror. I joined the Zumba party wagon. I'm now on Day 10.

Has Zumba made a difference? None that I've seen. The difference I've noticed with Zumba is that  I look forward to my Zumba hour with anticipation; I even find myself practicing moves during the day.


I'm thinking maybe I should completely cut off the rice, pasta, and bread. And though, I've cut back on the soda, I'm trying to give it up completely.

The struggle continues. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Wish me luck.

How I did on my weight loss fast

In case you're wondering what happened with my fast, which I'm sure you're not, I quit. So there goes my dream of fitting into the clothes I bought and stowed away anticipating the day I would fit into them. I have not lost hope. I will get to that ideal weight someday, somehow, but first, I need to go pick up a donut and bottle of Coca Cola to ease away this morning's worries.

Fasting to Jumpstart Weight Loss: Day 1

I know, I know! I've heard all the reasons for and against fasting to lose weight. Save it, I'm doing it! Or at last I'm going to attempt to.

I'll record my progress here. I didn't want to get on the scale this morning because I had thought I wouldn't check my weight until the fast is completed but I've changed my mind. I'll record it here.

I hope I do it this time. I started a couple of weeks ago, and managed to go for a little over 3 days; I don't even remember how and why I got off, probably went to some party or something.

Anyway, so far, I've gone half a work day. I'm actually hungry since I only ate once yesterday, but it'll pass I'm sure. Getting through the work day without eating is the easiest part of the day, the difficult part is sitting at the dinner table with the family watching them munching away. And, of course, there's the inevitable, "I want more chicken", from my 3-year old. My 1-year old won't finish his food, and I have to resist trying to help him. And then this weekend I have

I've done it before, I can do it again. I just really need to take it one day at a time. 3-4weeks is not that far away. It's a mental thing.

My plan is to do a water fast for 21 days and the a juice fast to ease back into eating the subsequent 7 days.

Wish me luck!

I have finally started writing my book, for the zillionth time, but started writing, I have. It's a fictional romantic type novel that I won't share too much about so idea thieves won't steal it and deprive me of the millions I intend to make from its publication. It doesn't matter that I have never been published nor ever completed any of my writing projects; I intend to be a best-selling author in the next year or two.

I started the project riding home on the metro rail system last week and I'm almost done with chapter one. I'll let you know how it goes. And you skeptics out there, I'll have to say I-told-you-so when the book hits stores and I start making millions.

Yes, making millions is my only reason for writing this book. Entertaining the public or sending a message that will impact lives will just be a side effect. Don't you know? It's what everyone is doing now. Just you take a look at the loads of information, new gadgets, new technology, etc. out there and you'll understand that it's just capitalism at work and nothing else.

Nobody REALLY wants to teach you or help you learn something that will benefit you or enrich your life. They just want to make money off of you, homey! (Hmnnh... homey? Nobody says that anymore, do they?) So remember that the next time you decide to sell your soul for the next new in-thing.

Life na waya for real o! Today at work...

I went into work earlier than usual today, at 7:30 a.m, so I could leave early to get the house ready for my cousin who is visiting from England. My boss had told me yesterday there would be an impromptu all-staff meeting at 10a.m. and to make myself available. When I got in, I accessed my machine but Outlook was down. That had never happened before and as time went on, I started to feel sorry for the tech guy. He was going to be getting it because the clock was ticking and people were just standing around not doing any work.

At 10 a.m. the HR lady came to get me. "Didn't Susie (not my boss' real name) tell me about the meeting? Come on," she said. I followed. I sat down. I wondered where everybody was. The computers weren't working so nobody had any excuse to be late. Usually, the conference room was packed for the staff meeting and folks had to bring in extra chair, but today there were only a handful of us.

Anyway, I sat down and cheerfully said hello. No one responded. "OK," I thought.

The interim Executive Director starts to speak and she's not looking like her usual exuberant self. She says something about having to read what she has to say so she won't miss anything.

Something, something, something, economic times and difficulty, shifting resources, something, something and then the bomshell: "your positions have been eliminated."

WHAT????

Hello? My husband and I just spent a fortune fixing the house. My son just started a private preschool. What the hell do they mean my position has been eliminated.

Then the HR lady begins to explain benefits and letters we have to sign if we want to accept whatever severance package they can afford to give us. Blah, blah, blah.

At this point, I just wanted to get out, get my music and my kids' pictures from my computer and leave. Someone asks if she can retrieve her resume and contacts list. The HR lady says No. They ;ater allow us to get our stuff, thank God for that one woman who kept crying otherwise they probably wouldn't have.

We eventually get out and go round saying our goodbyes. The other workers have been told that the privileged few who got the invitation to the staff meeting had all been laid off. Some are waiting in tears to receive us and wish us well.

And that was it. A chapter of my life closed. I truly loved that job.

What did I do? I started my weekend early. I went home and made jollof rice and chicken stew.

Reality will set in on Monday morning when my ass has nowhere to go.

$700B Bailout: An Alternative

IMHO, the bailout bill is a ripoff of American taxpayers--like me! Why is the government trying to help out the American people through the banking system. Why not help the banking sector through the American people.

Here's what I propose, if you care to know. The government should set up an agency that will work to buy homes on the brink of foreclosure. If the owner owes more than the house appraises for, then the bank should allow a short sale. It's a win-win situation for the home owner and the bank. The government can then either rent or sell the house at a reasonable cost.

I know it sounds simplistic, but with a flesh, it really could work.

What would you propose?

...and the winner is...

Mr. Yar'adua. Hmnn....ok. I''ll accept as the will of God. I hope the opposition leaders will take it that way as well and not cause unnecessary trouble. It does look like Nigerians are wising up, people don't want to die for foolish reasons like supporting a leader who cares nothing for the good of the people.

I wonder how the inauguration ceremony is going to go on the 29th. I'm hoping the new administration, considering the leader is educated, will bring about good changes in Nigeria. Deal with corruption, yes, but really look into shaping up the country. Education, Health, Transportation, these are areas that really need looking into. Deal with some of this and I'm sure there will be a corresponding reduction in crime.