I’m kind of excited. This Wednesday I am covering Preschool Story Time at work. Today I will be looking for some book possibilities. I love Juvenile Picture books. This should be fun. I’ll write all about it later in the week.
Story time
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Week 3 WW Update
So, I’ve finally hit the slowdown in losing. I’m officially down 14 pounds. Even with a few rough days this week, I’m still maintaining my weight loss. I started regular exercise (walking) yesterday. I added the 5 week squat challenge that I found on the WW website. Feeling pretty good.
Have any good WW recipes you can share?
Thanks for your support!
August 1 – 10, 2019 – reading for pleasure
Because I do a lot of ARC (advanced reader copy) reading as well as book club reading, I don’t often get a chance to read for pleasure. In July my goal was to read children’s books. For the month of August, I’m going to read for pleasure only. Here is what I’ve read, so far.
I have always loved mythology: Greek, Norse, Native American, to name a few. When Circe came out it was so popular that I was reluctant to read it. I’m one of those people who reads to the beat of my own drum. I don’t normally read what is on the best sellers lists. For some reason, I decided to read it. I just finished it three days ago and I have to say – I LOVED IT! I plan on going back and reading ALL of Madeline Millers books. This telling of the story of Circe, the daughter of the sun god Helios. Part Clash of the Titans, part family saga, the author writes in such a way that you get sucked into the story and don’t want to put it down. Highly recommended.
My most recent “back and forth to work” audiobook had me wanting my commute to last longer. Educated tells the story Tara Westover and how she went from her childhood in an “off the grid” survivalist family to a woman with a PhD. Tara’s parents did not believe in public schools, traditional medicine or any governmental agencies. According to their beliefs, public school education corrupts and the government is out to get them. The author’s tale of abuse and neglect is harrowing. While telling what happened to her and how she managed to not only educate herself, but go to Cambridge and Harvard, she manages to still express her love for her family. An awe inspiring book.
Next on my TBR for pleasure list: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury.
Two week WW update
In two weeks I have lost 12.3 pounds. I’m pretty happy with that. I knew that things would slow down a bit after the initial weight loss. I had two really bad high stress days where I got a little off track. But I tracked it and moved on. I’m back on track. I received my first two rewards today.
Next up…15 pounds!!! I can do it!
A short update
I have been following Weight Watchers since Monday. Today is Friday and I have lost 8 pounds. Thank you to everyone who reached out with support and encouragement. Your words helped me stay on track this week. I am looking forward to more healthy food, more movement, and feeling better every day.
Thanks again. Here is to seeing less of me in the days to come.
This is going to be difficult for me
On Monday, I had a follow-up doctors appointment that I was NOT looking forward to. When I saw my doctor in January, he told me to lose weight. I lost 9 pounds, started yoga, and was feeling pretty good about myself.
Then, work started getting stressful. I was trying so hard to deal with it cheerfully and just keep on keeping on. Then it got even MORE stressful and things started to happen to me. In the past month, even though I was eating ok, I gained that 9 pounds back PLUS 5 more. My blood pressure was up. My weight was up. The doctor said I had to COMMIT to do something about both. I could not agree with him more.
I then explained that I get home from work and I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to cook. I don’t want to clean. I don’t want to craft. I told him I hurt everywhere and that I wanted to get happy Kathy back. So…we went through the PHQ-9 screening and bingo…Kathy is severely depressed. So, between the stress (causes weight gain due to high cortisol – the stress hormone), pain (stress and depression can cause physical pain), and my lack of desire to do anything much less get up and move – I’ve gained all that weight back and then some. Working with the doctor on the depression, pain, and stress part since Monday, and so far I’m feeling a lot better. Now, I have to work on the weight. The doctor told me to join Weight Watchers.
When I got home from the doctors appointment, I joined Weight Watchers online. I’m fully invested in getting healthy again. I have never done the before and after photo or posted my starting weight, current weight, and goal weight. EVER. I was always to embarrassed. I’m posting this to make myself accountable and to help me stay on track. This is my BEFORE photo and weight.
So there it is. Me in all my chunky monkey glory. Yes, I have lost 4.7 pounds since Monday. I’m darned proud of that. I’m feeling so much better and I really think I can do this.
Thanks for putting up with my long, involved, and overly personal story.
My book review made the August 2019 edition of Library Reads
A while back I read an advanced readers copy of Ellie and the Harp Maker by Hazel Prior. I make not apologies about liking to read books about quirky characters and this book fits that description.
A few weeks ago I was contacted by Library Reads and asked if they can use my review. How thrilling!!! I said yes and approved their edited version of my review.
Here is the link to the August 2019 Library Reads list. Go check it out.
Thanks for reading!
