FRIDAY!

It's finally Friday!! And I am very happy. We have rotating weekends at work...which I hate. When I was hired I was told NO weekends and rotating holidays. They threw us this curve ball and made it mandatory. Well, this weekend it's my weekend. But thankfully I have no visits, so I get to get ready for Ireland this weekend! I feel like I have SO much to do! I am just buying some new clothes though in smaller sizes! Mine are too big...but I'm kinda broke right now. Between Jenny Craig and my mortgage, Electric bill, student loans...and my credit card bills for gas, etc...woof. I'm going to Ireland for a week and in February I'm going to visit my sister who's studying for a year in Milan! LOTS coming up and I need to watch my budget, eek!

Work has been a bit crazy but I feel a little better situated. I've been destressing with an apple scented candle from Yankee Candle and my fireplace. Ahh. And we're expecting a noreaster this weekend? WHAT!? I am not ready for snow. NO WAY! But at least I don't have to be out seeing patients.

I finally cleaned the house which feels amazing. I hate having a dirty house, it makes me so overwhelmed. Laundry is done...and I'm enjoying myself! I want to wish everyone a very SAFE Halloween weekend. Remember that your safety is #1! Don't drink and drive! Have fun!

Wednesday Weigh In Suprise!

I want to thank everyone for their kind comments and helping me feel better about the crummy couple of weeks I've had. Last night I destressed with some bubblewrap (yes, I love popping bubble wrap!) and some Sleepytime tea. Lately, tea has been my OBSESSION! I love having something warm and tasty at night around the time that I usually get hungry. Honestly, it doesn't matter if I ate my Jenny Craig meal or went out to eat, around 8/9pm I always feel STARVING. Before starting my weight loss journey I would eat most of my calories around this time. I recall having taken out and entire bag of Oreos...a pint of Ben and Jerry's...a small pizza... it's these kind of habits that got me in trouble! Now, I drink a hot glass of tea and eat my Jenny Craig snack.

So...as you may know already I didn't do that great with eating. I made some bad choices, I had some things that were outside of my control, and I did some stress eating. I have been walking a lot but I didn't do any Yoga or exercise tapes. But I lost...2.4 pounds~!?!????!?!? 

When I saw the scale, I almost cried! I chalk it up to the fact that when I did splurge, I went RIGHT back to eating healthy and I didn't continue to make bad choices! And I think I might have given my metabolism a little kick in the butt-- you have to do that sometimes!




I am so...close...to my Ireland goal. LOL Look at my Jenny Craig Ticker!!!! .1999999999999 to go until I reach this goal! I have ONE WEEK left to lose 0.2 pounds and I like my odds!

And in anticipation of meeting my goal, I am going to purchase my Camera!! I've decided on the Sony Cyber-Shot! And I want the pretty pink one! My sister has a slightly cheaper model and she LOVES it. I just wanted a little bit more feature-wise than she has!

Hopefully next week I'll meet my goal (I have big plans to get off those last few ounces!) and you'll get a picture update with my new camera! Now I'm off to Target to pick up things for the trip...I can't believe how many things I thought I had but I didn't!

Happy Wednesday All!

Having a Tough Time

These last couple weeks, I feel really overwhelmed. Things at work are very stressful and I've had a couple of patients who are really making my life miserable. I go so far above and beyond for these people, I don't think they even understand how much time and effort goes into keep them safe, healthy and at home. And yet for some reason, they're pitching hissy fits and cancelling services, refusing to let me come out to discharge them. And to make it worse some of the other nurses I work with love to badmouth each other behind their backs...I had to go in to get a PPD today and I heard them gossiping about me and how I suck at my job. Great. Just what I wanted to hear.

Seriously? I am so done.

I ate like crap this week and I know it. I mean, I stuck to my Jenny Craig almost every day but on Wednesday I had chinese food. I allotted it into my calories and I just ate a little bit of the rice and chicken, then THREW IT AWAY! But I finished my wonton soup, which was what I really wanted. Then the next day I went out to dinner with my mom after a horrible day. I caught myself stress eating Sunday night for no reason. I swear the last couple days I've just been so depressed. I've been crying and I feel overwhelmed. I feel like no one values what I do and that no one appreciates me. Then I feel bad because I feel like I'm being selfish. It's not all about me...

In short, I just have had a rotten couple weeks. I can't wait for my Ireland trip. I had a meeting on Saturday with the people who are going. I'm the only person under 65 going on this trip. Oh well. I'll meet some hot Irishmen and dance some calories away? A girl can dream! I just need a break. I'm off tomorrow and I'm planning on destressing, getting things ready for Ireland, and not thinking about work. At all. It's a hard thing to do for me but I'm seriously losing my sanity. And to top it off I'm on this weekend. UGH.

Okay this pity party is over. I'm moving on, hoping to just maintain this week before I kick my butt into gear for next week. I'm so close to making my 40lb goal that I can taste it!! I need to stop tasting junk and focus on moving my hiney!

Have a good day everyone <3 Skinny vibes to my Wednesday Weighers!

Feverish Friday

Caution: Very Angry Rant ahead...and some true confessions.

I feel extremely manipulated and taken advantage of by my job. Being forced to work on my scheduled days off, being told I have to work rotating weekends now even though that was not in my contract, and the complete and total crap I have to put up with day in and day out. The constant phone calls...yes, I am talking about being called five times in one day after you've already talked to this person face to face about the same exact thing they're calling you about. And the kicker was I had a full schedule yesterday, including going out to one of our group homes and doing a visit there. Now, I absolutely love my patients, especially these two. It's a treat for me to go out and get hugs and have sweet, enjoyable patients (for once, lol). However they go to a work program during the day and thusly, you have to go out late in the afternoon to accomedate them. Now, I had already been working since 7:30am and we're approaching 4pm without a break or a second to breathe.

So, I am at that visit and I get a frantic phone call from my boss telling me that I have to go out and see another patient tonight. I'm contracted to 6 visits per day and at this point, I had already had SEVEN visits. Which takes a lot of time and effort, believe me. Intense wound care, assessment, calling doctors, calling in refills on prescriptions...and that's not even dealing with patient and family issues. Which is a whole different story I won't even go into. I'm over my alloted visits for the day AND for the week, so technically any visits above and beyond that are per diem and I'm supposed to be able to refuse if I want. And at 4:30pm on a Thursday when I was trying to meet my mom so we could go to the Farmer's Market is NOT the time to be calling me to go do a visit. I was not on call, I'd done my work for the day...and I was also almost 45 minutes away from the patient who needed to be seen.

Needless to say, I had to go out to see that patient, I missed the Farmer's Market and I enjoyed a tension headache and pounding rage for most of the night. The ridiculousness of having a job where I've already worked a 9 hour day without a break and am being forced to cancel plans with my mother because of it...I just can't be doing that. But I took a deep breath, my mom and I sat and vented for a while and then we went out to dinner.

I need to get my behind back in gear. I ate really well on Wednesday morning and afternoon but in the evening I was still feeling sick and the only thing I wanted was wonton soup. Well, I got it and I allotted it into my calories. And I stayed within range, just went a bit nutso overboard on the sodium...I can't help that they drown soup in salt, lol. And on Tuesday I had a normal breakfast but I was so busy I didn't get a chance to have lunch...so my mom and I went out to dinner. I had a beer, I ate a portabello mushroom sandwich which I already know is pretty good on calories/fat etc, but then I had onion rings with it and I mowed down a piece of cheesecake. Damn freaking stress/emotional eating...I knew what I was doing too. I just...it made me feel better to put that junk in my body. UGH. Then I was mad at myself...

So today I'm back on plan. I have been eating my Jenny Craig food for breakfast/lunch and dinner, I've been drinking plenty of water and just relaxing. It's Friday. I am not on call this weekend. I will not be answering my phone. No, not even if there is a plague. :D

Sorry for ranting, I'm sure no one wants to listen to me bitch and moan about my job. I just feel so taken advantage of. I have a VERY heavy load of patients who have a LOT wrong with them. And I feel like there's never any break. I wake up in a panic sometimes worrying about whether my patients are okay...so I never give myself a break either!!

My goal for this weekend is to eat right, get some exercise, relax, and enjoy myself. I have a meeting tomorrow for my Ireland trip, which is exciting! And I'm looking forward to it! My new sweaters came from Target and they are SUPER CUTE! YAY!

Have a happy, safe weekend everyone!

Weigh In Wednesday!

What a yucky day out. I didn't want to leave my bed this morning!! But I need to get on with my day, I know! I had my Jenny Craig appointment and I lost 1.2 pounds! Yipee!! 2.6 to go until I reach 40lbs down and can get my camera for Ireland!

In other news, I am going to have to invest in new pants. I've been making do with the old ones but...I almost lost my pants yesterday. They are SO loose. They are also having a sweater sale at Target and I bought a couple online that I will hopefully be wearing in Ireland! FINGERS CROSSED! The selection at my local Target isn't that good for clothes, so usually I order online and have much better luck. I also hate trying on clothes...so...I'm hoping as I keep losing weight, everything will work out.

Today I hit another big milestone. I am officially 1/4 of the way through my weight loss journey! HOORAY!!!!!!! 25% of my weight is gone. I am ecstatic!!! When I first started, I didn't believe in myself. I kept thinking, you'll slip up and gain it all back...forget it, you're just going to be fat forever...

But I CAN do this! I am doing it! Woohoo! I'm hoping before the month is out I'll have another milestone photo and a new camera so you can have better quality milstone photos than my stupid phone, haha!

Hope everyone has a lovely day! It's nasty here but I have some tea, an apple scented candle burning and my electric fireplace going. Ahh, so nice.

Checking In!

Hi all!

It feels like a long time since I last blogged. I got in the habit of blogging my September Recipes every day and now I'm slacking off! Honestly, I've been so swamped with work it's been impossible. Between all the patients I have to see, case management out the wazoo, charting my visits and trying to get things in my own life accomplished, I've barely had a second to myself. I also worked on my day off last week and over the weekend I caught a NASTY cold. Oof it is still kicking my butt! My glands are so swollen, I have had a constant headache despite taking Excedrin, and the throat soreness is what's really bugging me.

Since I'm off tomorrow and will not be picking up my phone for any reason, I plan on taking a nice dose of Nyquil tonight and sleeping in. I have refused to take the nighttime cold medicine because I've had to be up early and I didn't want to be groggy driving. But hopefully with the medicine tonight and a good night's rest, I'll be good as new!

Eating wise I've done really well this week. I've had almost not appetite because I've been sick but I've been drinking a lot of tea. I have been drinking homemade mulled apple cider (which I've carefully counted into my calories). And 8oz of cider is a fruit serving, right? Right! :D I went out to lunch on Sunday, I had a portobella mushroom sandwich  which is relatively low in calories and a glass of unsweetened iced tea! I ate lighter during the day to even things out. That day I took a long walk with my mom too, which should help too! Exercise has been lacking just because just going to work and doing my visits takes so much energy when I'm sick, I can barely do anything but go to work and the crawl into bed.

Tomorrow is weigh in day and I'm hopeful that the last few pounds will be all gone before Ireland! Only 3.6 to go!!!!!!!!! :D

Skinny vibes to my Wednesday weighers and I hope everyone is doing well!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

Thank GOD it's Friday!!!

This week has been insane...absolutely insane. And I have had a really tough couple weeks. I had to work on my day off, I've had not a single second to myself except for a brief dinner with a good friend that saved my sanity! I need this weekend! YAY IT'S FINALLY HERE!

Went out to eat on Wednesday and did really well. I counted all my calories and ate lightly so I had a delicious salad and some cheesecake for a post weigh in splurge. Since then I've been eating well. I'm going out to lunch tomorrow with my mom but we're taking a nice long autumnal walk before it. Activity and good eating the rest of the day will be a success! Plus I'm in love with the portabello mushroom sandwich at the local bar and it's relatively low in calories and fat! As far as bar sandwiches go, it's an excellent choice!!

I am spending this weekend on ME. I'm relaxing, enjoying myself, and not answering my damn work phone! Countdown to Ireland 3 weeks and 2 days, yipee!!! That means 3 weeks and 2 days to lose 3.6 pounds so I can buy my camera and meet my Ireland goal. I can do this!

I hope that everyone has a relaxing weekend. Take time to focus on the positives. Rejuvenate!

Happy Friday!

Weigh In Wednesday

I am super annoyed today. And in a very bitchy mood. I do not want to be doing work or having to answer my damn work phone on my day off. And yet that is exactly what I have to do. Because of incompetent idiots who can't figure it the hell out for themselves. All I really wanted to do today was relax, do some yoga, and detox from the last two days of stress at work. But is that what I get to do? No. I have to deal with completely and total bullcookies. I've really had it and I'm almost at breaking point...having my period doesn't help either.

However despite having a crappy day so far, I lost 2.8 at my weigh in today. WHAT!? I swore I was going to gain. My pants were tight this morning and that's rare for me. I know it's just bloating because I've been eating really well and exercising so I tried not to let it bug me too much. But when I stepped on the scale I was shocked to see 273.8!!! A loss of 2.8 pounds and that means only 3.8lbs to lose before I go to Ireland! I CAN DO THIS! That brightened me up a little bit...but then I got caught in some stupid construction traffic. Seriously do you have to close an entire lane for 3 miles for ONE damn truck fixing the sign on the side of the road?! REALLY!?

I think I'm just in a pissy mood. And I need the rest of the day to not do anything at all.

I'm going out to dinner with a friend tonight, which I've allotted into my plan, so that'll be fun. I have that to look forward to tonight! Focusing on the positive.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Blogger Must Be Hungry Today...

Because it ate my post...

Sigh.

Oh well. It's been crazy for me. And I was manipulated into taking a visit on my day off tomorrow. Seriously, what the hell? What is wrong with me? Why can't I put my foot down and say NO. I am not working on my day off, don't call me, don't talk to me...I am not available. But for some reason I just can't. It could be because this particular patient is very special to me. And when other people see her they screw her up EVERY. TIME. I mean, it's ridiculous. Yes, I understand she's a difficult patient but...what I can't understand is letting that get in the way of doing things right. They better not even think about bothering me all day or I'll probably lose it... I really need a day off this week. I have tons of appointments to go to in addition to major grocery shopping.

Tomorrow is weigh in day and I'm not expecting anything. I'm hoping for staying the same or a loss... I've eaten really well but Aunt Flow has stopped by for a visit. I'm actually kind of happy, this is the first time in almost 2 years that I've had a normal period. I'm making sure to write it down so I can keep an eye on things. I feel very crampy and my body is soooo sore from working out yesterday in addition to body aches that I normally get. Really it's only my right leg and my lower back, but man is it sore.

Skinny vibes to my Wednesday weighers!

Crocktober!

Larry, Curly and Moe! My crock pots!

Hi all!

It's been a LONG time since this has happened but I have NO PLANS this weekend! Which means that I'm getting things done at home! I did some working out this morning. Also baked some banana chocolate chip muffins last night and had one for breakfast today, they were amazing!! I also am making Jambalaya in the crock pot for dinner tonight! Yum yum yum! I'm doing a total Jenny Craig day on my own, woohoo! My muffin for breakfast with milk, I'm having a buffalo chicken sandwich which I made in my crock pot a couple days ago, and Jambalaya for dinner! :D 2 of the 3 things were made in my crock pot!

For those of you who don't know about my obsession with crock pots...you're about to learn. I love crock pots...I have three of them! I love to cook in my crock pots! I have a six quart that I like to make spaghetti sauce and applesauce in. My 5 quart (which is my first and favorite crock pot) I've made everything from enchiladas to pork chops to jambalaya! And I also have a minicrock pot that I mostly use for making pumpkin spice lattes and dips!

If you don't already have a crock pot, this is something to add to your list of things to purchase. I may have posted about this before...but having an entire meal made in 20 minutes and completely cleaned up before you start your day is AWESOME. And October...aka CROCKTOBER is my favorite month to do it in.

Prior to starting my weight loss journey I would make up lots of yummy things and eat them, share them, and freeze them for later! And now that I'm watching my intake and everything, I've got a wealth of awesome healthy recipes to choose from :D. Looking to make my famous beef stew next weekend perhaps?

In other news, I am wearing my new jeans that I bought and...for some reason they're loose! I bought two sizes down from my starting size thinking since I've lost 33.4 pounds I'd be closer to the smaller size than the larger one. But these are a bit too big, thankfully they have a belt that I'm using to keep them fastened up! Oops!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous, relaxing, beautiful weekend!

A-Z About Me!

I've seen this floating around on several blogs and I decided to fill it out while I watch Grey's Anatomy!

A. Age - 23

B. Bed size - Queen

C. Chore you dislike - Taking out the trash....

 

D. Dogs - Used to :( My little Shea.

E. Essential start to your day -  Shower.

 

F. Favorite color - Red

G. Gold or silver - Silver I guess.

 

H. Height - 5'8

I. Instruments you play(ed) -  Piano, Oboe and Bassoon...and I was good too!

J. Job title - RN Case Manager

K. Kids -  My Patients are my babies

L. Live - Windsor, CT

M. Mom's name - Kathleen

N. Nicknames - Kate, my family has always called me Katebug. My brother calls me Kibbles. Do NOT ask where that came from because I don't know...

O. Overnight hospital stays - None, maybe being born? Lol.

 

P. Pet peeves - Traffic. Rudeness.

Q.Quote from a movie - "We're Going In!" - Twister. Because I could remember it.

 

R. Righty or Lefty - Righty

S. Siblings - Younger sister and younger brother.

 

T. Time you wake up - CHanges every day, that's part of my transient schedule!

U. Underwear - Cotton full coverage...and I have some slutty thongs for going out ;)

V. Vegetables you don't like - I don't think there's any veggie I really hate. I am highly allergic to Eggplant so I don't like that.

W. What makes you run late - Traffic.

X. X-rays you've had - R wrist (Growth plate), Patella

 

Y. Yummy food you make - I make tons of good food! Haha.

Z. Zoo animal favorites - Pandas...but my favorite animal is a pig. SO CUTE. Piggies!

 

 

Tiring Thursday

Today is a long day for me. I've been out early seeing patients and I have one late visit in a not-so-nice section of Hartford tonight. It isn't the worst area...and I do adore the patients there...but I really wish that I could actually catch a break. I've been working like a dog the last week. Lots of patients with a lot going on, very intense wound care...I have to say that a lot of my exercise comes from dressing wounds, ahaha. You are moving people's legs, holding them up, wrapping, applying alginate, bending over to measure, putting on TIGHT compression stockings...woo, that is a workout! Believe me!

Friday looks pretty amazing though. I only have a few visits and they're in the morning...so I can finally come home and make a dent in all of the things I need to get done! Today marks exactly 30 days until I leave for Ireland!! I can't believe it! That means I have one month to lose 6.6 pounds AND earn my next minigoal prize which is a CAMERA. I better get my buns moving. It shouldn't be too hard because I WON TARYN'S GIVEAWAY! WOOO!

Taryn writes Fat Girl in A Skinny World and if you don't already follow her, I would highly reccomend it! She is awesome...and her boyfriend picked my name out of a bowl! She's awesome and her man has good taste in sticky notes with my name on them :D

Food wise I've been very good the last couple days. On Wednesday I went to IHop with my friend Katie. They have a new simple and fit menu and they have egg white omelettes that are outstanding and are served with fruit! Very appropriate for those watching their intake! And then we went shopping!!!! I bought a cute new jean skirt on clearance and a pair of jeans...since most of my clothes are getting way too big. YAY! I also got an adorable carryon bag for when I go travelling this year, to Ireland and to Italy! And finally replaced my faithful pair of black flats that I've owned for 8 years...the strap broke on them over a year ago but I haven't had the heart to get rid of them. I'm still not sure I do but I have adorable ones from Payless (BOGO going on now!) that I love!

I made buffalo chicken in my crock pot the other night and I've been eating it for lunches...it's soo good. I did 1.3lbs of chicken (that's how much came in the package) and 12oz of hotsauce. Threw it in the crock pot on low for 6 hours. Shredded the chicken and viola! That makes 12 (1/4 cup) servings of meat! I've been eating it on a 100calorie sandwich thin with onion, shredded lettuce and fat free blue cheese...to die for. And SO filling for 238 calories. Can you possibly go wrong? I don't think so! The chicken is a little bit higher in sodium because of the hot sauce...but it's not that bad. Honestly if you went to a restaurant and got a buffalo chicken sandwich you'd be look at way more fat, calories and sodium that that!

Looking forward to Jenny Craig Chicken Carbonara tonight. I am sauteeing mushrooms and I add a little bit of Kraft grated parmesean (2tsp for 20 calories) to jazz it up! I also put on cracked black pepper, garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of Sriracha for good measure. Yum yum! Have a great day everyone! Looking forward to the weekend!!

Weigh In Wednesday!

Writing this blog post very quickly before I head out and have breakfast with a good friend! Ihop has a simple and fit menu where you get an egg white omelette and fruit and its under 300 calories. So I am so there!

I lost 0.8 this week! WOOHOO! I was kind of expecting a gain after the crap I ate this weekend but I was good the rest of the week, so things must have evened out! 6.6 pounds to go until I reach my Ireland goal, with over a month to spare...hopefully I'll get a little bit beyond 40lbs lost by the time I go!!!

I made buffalo chicken in my crock pot for lunches this week and on Friday I'm doing my Jambalaya recipe in my crock pot. Crocktober is well underway at my house!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day! Good luck Wednesday Weighers!

Weigh In Eve

Hi all!

Hope all is going well in weightloss land. I had a pretty good week last week but this weekend I ate like crap. But I got back on track Monday and Tuesday. Today I had a hard time because I've been SO busy. I didn't get to eat lunch at all...I brought a snack with me thankfully. But I came home and ate my Jenny Craig dinner around 5pm. And since I have a whole ton of calories to eat and am looking for a healthy snack, I decided to make my famous Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies. They are so freaking good. And since my shows are on tonight: Glee, New Girl and Raising Hope (YIPEE!!) I will have a delicious treat while I watch my shows.

Hoping for a loss tomorrow but not expecting anything...I really was a bad girl this weekend. I made good choices but I went out to eat too much and for some reason on Sunday I was ravenous. I got pumpkins and we went to the cider mill and I have 3 mini apple fritters (about the size of a donut hole). I enjoyed every bite of them...but I know I shouldn't have indulged!

Crossing fingers for a small loss! And enjoying the smell of cookies baking!

Skinny vibes to my Wednesday Weighers!!!!

Weekend Update

Well...I did really poorly with eating this weekend. I mean, it wasn't the worst but I definitely won't be winning any prizes. On Friday night my mom came over and on Saturday morning we went out to breakfast. I made good choices, had my Jenny Craig lunch and then I went to dinner with my best friend from highschool. I made good choices at dinner too but then we went to Price Chopper and she bought salt and vinegar chips and cookies. Well...let's just say I ate a few too many. And this morning I made some poor choices, haven't been eating the best...but I am ready to get back on track. I actually don't feel good. I haven't enjoyed eating like crap at all...

I did get some exercise but nothing over the top. And I almost had a freaking heart attack because I couldn't find my wallet. I looked EVERYWHERE. Finally I called the restaurant from last night and they said they found it in the parking lot. THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! I about had a nervous breakdown!! I have a stress headache now.

This work week looks absolutely insane. I don't even know. But what I do know is that I am comitted to eating healthy. I have three beautiful pumpkins! Enjoy this blurry cell phone picture of them! :D And I got fresh apples...yum yum yum!!!

Happy Fall Everyone!