Gratitude, Day 3

Last night I had one of those moments where I felt I needed to add hours to my day.  I had just looked up the reading assignment that needs to be done before my class meets next Monday.  Then I pulled out the books, opened them up, and got a good look at exactly what I was facing. 

Here I’d been, thinking that I can slowly meander my way through these readings sometime this week.  Ha!  Was I wrong!  One of the two is actually to read an entire book.  The other, is about 50-something pages.  But a book!  Sure, I read a book a day sometimes, but that’s fluffy fiction stuff that I select.  Not a book on the intricacies of primary reading instruction and assessment.  Oh my!

So, I’ve spent part of my morning reading and highlighting.  I’ve treated myself to some iced coffee and donuts.  It’s not going so bad.

Oh…it’s decaf coffee and donuts made out of my Medifast food, NOT Dunkin Donuts.  Wanted to make that clear.

As I stressed about this last night, I realized how lucky I am.  I’m stressing about a grad school reading assignment.  Really, this is small potatoes.  I’ve got a job that I love.  My family and friends are amazing people.  My home is a place I enjoy being and feel safe in.  My neighborhood is bike, walk, and run friendly.  I can afford to go to grad school.  Seriously, having to read a book – not a problem.

Now, what may be a problem…my newly discovered donut addiction.  This is serious business, kids.  I had four meals of donuts yesterday and two already today.  I woke up this morning feeling like I’d eaten some forbidden foods yesterday.  Today, when I ate my second meal of Chocolate Brownie mini donuts, I was channeling some sugar-glazed demons from that dreaded DD place.  Oh my, what’s a girl to do except…make more donuts!!!

Yes, it’s time for lunch and to get back to the reading and highlighting portion of my afternoon.  I’m going to reward myself with a ride to the lake later.  Yes, that’s a great plan if I do say so myself.

30 Days of Gratitude, Day #3

1.         A job I love 
2.         A most fantastic and inspiring grad school experience…ALVERNO, people!
3.         Being back on my road bike, Blaze.  It’s been a mighty fine reunion.

Go get ‘em, tigers!

Time to Make the Donuts

Oh my...

Now, I'm a kitchen gadget queen from way back.  I've been collecting my own and hoarding those from family since before I lived on my own.  I bought myself a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for my 31st birthday.  It's just the kind of girl I am.

I’m also the kind of girl that just can’t help herself when she has a Kohl’s coupon in her wallet, it’s tax-free weekend at Kohl’s and they have the Babycakes Mini Donut Maker on sale.  Yep.  You guessed it.  That cute little yellow vessel of happiness is now at home on my kitchen counter.

This morning I experimented with the Medifast Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chip Soft Bake packets.

Yep…they make some darn tasty donuts.

Tonight, having freshly tidied up the kitchen, washed the dinner dishes and contemplated my last two meals, I decided I would do some more experimenting and pulled out two packs of Medifast Chocolate Chip Pancakes. 

Wouldn’t ya know it – they are tasty, too.

Oh my…they never told me this is the Donut Diet!

What can I dream up for tomorrow???

Does Grad School NEED to Equal Weight Gain?

Originally Published April 28, 2012


First, I want to say that I have lost weight this semester.  Thank you, Medifast! 

Shortly after my first official attempt at losing weight, I started graduate school.  This was in the spring of 2001 and it was also just my second semester teaching.  For the first three months of the "diet" I was successful, had started spinning, lost just over 20 pounds and was feeling great!  Then, I started classes.  And gaining the weight back.  And adding more on.  By the end, I weighed more than I started before I started that "diet."

I am back in graduate school again - new degree & new weight-loss plan.  While my slip from round 1 of Medifast had nothing to do with grad school, the timing was a little too much for me to ignore.  So, I grabbed the bull by the horns and am now happily back on Medifast and down 12 pounds from where I was 12 days ago.  This morning I finished up my class for the semester.

As I was filling out my course evaluation, someone got up to get a donut from the "treat" table - we all signed up for a day so that there'd be some food in class every week.  Some days it was bagels and donuts and juice and cookies.  Some days it was a deli tray with veggies, sausage and cheese.  Some days there was fruit and vegetables.  But, we all know - most days it was bagels, donuts, juice, cookies, kringle and all sorts of sugar-laced tasty treats.  And the juice.  Juice boxes, juice pouches, fancy combo juices...you get the picture.

I sat at my table today with my bottle of iced green tea (which I made last night while strengthening my resolve against the treat table) and kindly ignored the table of bagels and donuts and cookies.  I had a bar in my bag if I decided I needed to eat something.  I was prepared.

I declared victory over the treat table this morning.  I had my coffee & MF cappucino this morning and my trusty Camelbak of green tea in class.  I planned, I prepared, I prevailed!

The past few weeks have been full of stress.  HOW would I finish my final project in time for the presentation?  HOW would I get my paper done before today?  HOW will I pay tuition for the next three semesters?  WHY am I putting myself through this?

I've found answers to all of these questions.  I've been logical and mature and made decisions that will allow me to continue to be successful.  

I didn't find the time in the bottom of a pint of Ben & Jerry's.  My paper was not hidden beneath a pile of Buffalo wings.  Tuition money is easier to scrape together if I'm not stopping at Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts or the local frozen custard stand.  And, just as I am doing Medifast so that I can live a better and more fulfilling life that includes the things and people I love, I am in graduate school again so that I can live a better and more fulfilling life that includes the things and people I love.

Graduate school does NOT need to equal weight gain.  Stress does NOT need to equal weight gain.  Life does NOT need to equal weight gain.

We have the tools right in front of us to get everything we want out of our lives.  We just need to make that decision for ourselves and go after it like our lives depend upon it...because it does.

Go get 'em, tigers!