Being curious...

I'm stealing these questions from N, who stole them from another blog.  

1) What actor/actress gets on your last nerve? I cannot stand Tom Cruise and I have always felt this way.  I never understood why everyone used to think he was so hot.  He totally creeps me out.  Renee Zellwegger also annoys me.

2) What is one thing seemingly spectacular thing you bought as a child with your own money? I have no recollection of buying anything as a child.  We had to use our own money every year to buy our school clothes but I never remember being able to buy anything fun.  I do remember always paying for my own gas while a teenager, something my brothers never had to do.

3) Do you miss anyone right now? My Grandma (Nan-Nan) and also my Grandpa Carl who I don't remember

4) What is something you’d like to change about yourself today? My inactivity and listlessness, lack of motivation.

5) What is the last book that made you cry? I have no idea.  I remember sobbing over a book within the past 2 months, but can not recall anything about the book.  Sad

6) Do you have a scar? How did you get it?  I have lots of scars.  The biggest is when I fell off my bike in the neighbor's driveway.  I was about 9 years old and ended up with 22 stitches in my knee.  It is hideous and obvious I was not offered a plastic surgeon.

7) What was your first car? A Honda Civic hatchback.  I loved that car.  It was my Mom's and then she signed it over to me.  A year later she hit a deer with it and totaled it. :(

8) Can you play an instrument? Yes, the clarinet.

9) Are you currently keeping a secret? Yes.  And, I guess since N is on a self-imposed socializing exile and, I haven't seen her in months,  she is about to learn that I am pregnant from this blog.

10) Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert?  Neither.  I don't watch any late night TV and/or any political talk shows

11) What song do you know all the words to?  Pretty much any 80s power ballad by any hair band

12) What is your favorite musical? Well since I have only ever seen one musical then I will say Rent  although if Grease counts then that would be my favorite.

13) What is something you used to think before you knew better? Everything I believe in parenting are things I used to think people were crazy for doing.  However, I now know from experience that many times co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, and attachment parenting are deliberate choices made out of research and personal family philosophies. 

Obsessions

Are you an obsessive person?  I am.  My brain gets bored easily and I look for something to fill it.  Then I obsess.  Obsess, engulf, etc.  I don't even mean obsess in a bad way, but really that is what I do.  Now I am looking for a new obsession.  It would be awesome if cleaning my house, cooking or, as my husband suggested, container gardening could be my next obsession.  Unfortunately these suggestions are not hitting the mark.  I would say that the obsession actually chooses me and not the other way around.  After all, if I could choose it, then I would choose something healthy or financially rewarding.

Here is how the obsession usually works.  I develop an interest in something, talk about it nonstop, read everything I can about it, search the web insessently for information on it and think of it to the exclusion of all else.  The obsession ends when either it comes to its own conclusion (books, etc) or I feel I have learned all I need to know about it.  Then I move on.  I would actually call it a love of learning new things, but taken to the extreme.

Here are some of my past obsessions:
- Harry Potter
- Take Shape for Life Weight Loss Plan
- Homeschooling (I still homeschool, but the obsessive "learn all about it" phase has ended
- Various computer games
- Tupperware
- Dave Ramsey
- TIVO
- Vacuum Sealing
- Attachment Parenting
- Wedding Planning

Some obessions I am contemplating:
 - photography (I really want to do this one, but each time I start reading about it I zone out)
 - knitting
 - sewing

Weight Loss Wednesday

This was my first week "back" on my plan and I struggled.  The initial 3 days off sugar wasn't as bad as the first time, but I am more hungry than in the past.  I also have been waking up very tired in the morning.  I can't think of any reason for this other than lack of calories.  I took a walk last night and was exhausted.

I did have a decent loss though: 2.5 pounds.  I was hoping for more, only because the first week usually means a big loss.  However we did take Maggie out for a "fancy" dinner and I did have dessert and a meal covered in gravy.  Not my best night, but overall it was a decent week.  I really need to regain some momentum and motivation.  I now weigh less than I have my whole marriage and most of my college days.  I am still just enjoying that feeling.  I think the thought of actually weighing what is considered my "ideal" weight is so far removed from my thought process that I can't even imagine it.  

My new goal is to start making relying less on meat and adding some vegetarian options to our meals.  I just don't get that many dishes use a meat substitute.  My warped mind thinks "what's the point?"  I think a vegetarian meal should just be all alternatives and no substitutions.  But I am open to some new ideas, especially for the kids because at this point I really can't have most of what is even in the vegetarian cookbook.

One Year Ago Today...

I started yet another weight loss plan.  I wasn't sure it would work, or that I would be able to stick to it.

A year later I have lost 75 lbs and I am still headed toward my final goal.
What a difference a year makes.... which is basically the exact thing my SIL told me a year ago when I was struggling.

Weight Loss Wednesday: 3/2/11

About a month ago I was starting to get annoyed at my slow weight loss.  I even started exercising and I still wasn't loosing any weight.  I stalled out after reaching a 75 lb loss.  I will admit I have had trouble getting 100% back on track since Christmas.  I have allowed myself a slice of bread or two and I wasn't very focused.

So last month I just decided to work the Take Shape for Life transition plan for awhile.  I am still eating every 2 hours and I am still eating a shake or bar for 3 of my meals.  The main difference is I am occasionally eating muesli for breakfast or I will eat lunch.  I am eating extra protein during the day and not being so strict with fruit and grains.

Let me just add that my love affair with muesli began on our NCL cruise last November.  I decided to try a helping of this giant bowl of something... and it was DELICIOUS.  Jeff and I have been trying to perfect the recipe.  His version is very good, but I would still love to get Norwegian's recipe.

I eventually plan on going back to the 5 & 1 plan to loose the rest of the weight, but I think this will help me.  I am obsessively watching the scale to make sure it doesn't rise.  Last week I actually lost 2.5 lbs which is my biggest loss in several weeks, maybe even since before Christmas.

My biggest struggle is still with the exercise.  I motivate myself for a week and then fall completely off the wagon.  I wish there was a magic motivation pill I could take to get myself moving, but I haven't found it yet.

A Work in Progress

I learned something new today. I learned how to make tabs on my blog. I can't tell you how excited I am. I have been wanting to improve my blog for awhile, but I really have no desire to learn HTML. I want the easy way out and I found it. I found it thanks to some nice people on the web who help the unknowledgeable like me.

So pardon the mess while I finish figuring out the details. I know some links don't currently work, but I will figure it out eventually.

30 Days of Truth: Day 30

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

(better late than never)

Donita, I love that you think writing letters to yourself is stupid and a waste of time.

Your loving self,

Donita

30 Days of Truth: Day 29

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.

I hope to change from a couch potato into an active person. Why? Because I want to be mobile when I am 75.

30 Days of Truth: Day 28

Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?

Well this doesn't have much of a shock efffect once you are married and have already had kids. If I were pregnant, I would switch back to baby mode and start all over again.

30 Days of Truth: Day 27

Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?

Me

It's been a good year. I have many, many good things going for me right now.

30 Days of Truth: Day 26

Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?

I've been through some dark times, especially in college. Too much alcohol doesn't mix well with depression.

30 Days of Truth: Day 25

Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.

God

30 Days of Truth: Day 24

Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)

During the ages of about 16-22 music was my life. I couldn't imagine a time when I would not listen to music. Well, the time has come. The only reason I even know the names of current musicians is because of the gossip sites on the internet. I have never heard a Lady Gaga song. I thought Katy Perry was an actress. I am clueless.

My point? Well, I don't really have one except to say any play list I made would include mostly songs from 80s hair bands and a few country artists. I am not a pop princess. I barely even listen to music in the car. My IPod is filled with podcasts. I am "old."

30 Days of Truth: Day 23

Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.

I wish I had lost the weight sooner.

I wish I had been braver.

I wish I had met Jeff sooner.

30 Days of Truth: Day 22

Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.

Oh My.... what a loaded question.

I could list a dozen things, but I also believe that every action and decision I made has led me to where I am today. And, I'm pretty happy with where I am today.

I made a couple stupid comments in my life that I still regret. One was a seriously stupid comment to a stranger and the other was a thoughtless comment to a friend. I regret those.

30 Days of Truth: Day 21

Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?

Depends on how bad the fight was.
I would say "Go see her" but I might feel that she would not want to see me if the fight was bad enough.

30 Days of Truth: Day 20

Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Moderation. I don't really believe we should legalize anything. However I think the bigger problem is probably the abuse of legal prescription drugs.

30 Days of Truth: Day 19

Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?

I tend to discuss neither with friends or strangers.

I think religion is a personal relationship with God. I think politics is a risky subject to discuss. Plus, being an introvert, I can NOT out-argue anyone and have no desire to try.

30 Days of Truth: Day 18

Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.

I used to have the traditional Christian thoughts of "NO gay marriage. We MUST protect the sanctity of marriage." But the I heard a quote where someone questioned what we were actually protecting and I started to rethink my position. I actually believe that we should have civil unions and "Marriage" for everyone. You can choose which to enter, but Marriage would be a much more difficult to get out of than "irreconcilable difference."

30 Days of Truth: Day 17

Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.

The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney
It sounds trite, but this book really changed my life. I started looking at myself differently after I realized the things I thought were personality flaws were actually inherent personality traits shared by many other people. It was a freeing discovery.