Tomatoes and Blueberries: "Cut it out and then Restart."

When I was in college I used to make mix Cd's (or mix tapes as my sister calls them) for different occasions or when I was bored. The way I put the songs together takes a patented recipe of different styles, tempos, instrumentals and a good title. I spend a long time looking through my library, thinking about songs I know I want to include and looking for other songs that have titles that might relate to the theme of the title. Then I put them in an order and listen to the tops and tails of each song next to each other and move them accordingly. Then I listen to the whole things a few times before I publish them. It takes kind of a long time. I tend to get compliments on them so let me know if you want me to burn you a few old ones. (I watched High Fidelity a lot in college and I was definitely inspired by the way that the main character talks about how to make a perfect mix tape.) As Xmas is coming close I decided to make a few mixes to give away as stocking stuffers, so I have been working on them. (Spoiler Alert Cindy.)

I was listening to one when I started to write this blog and I started listening to the lyrics of the Florence and the Machine song, "Shake it out". I think the whole lyric is "tonight I am going to cut it out and Restart." I really like it and it relates to this two week period. Last week, after an almost 2lb gain I faced a week of fun employment, which means a week at home. My room needed a lot of attention and I was beating myself up about not cleaning it. So I cleaned the rest of my house and made and put up Christmas Decorations. Then at the last possible day, I started to clean my room. I am excited to say that though I am not finished I am very very pleased with my progress. (I am going to do a few 20/10's and 45/15's this week to finish it and then there will be many many photos. 20/10's are a concept via http://unfuckyourhabitat.tumblr.com/ IT IS VERY HELPFUL and also funny.)

It is amazing how much better I feel this week than last having conquered most of the big ugly. I knew I would feel better but it just gets so overwhelming. I babysat for my niece and nephew and helped my mom make a project on the sewing machine. The quilt my sister and I made got to my cousin and he (and my aunt) really liked it. What else happened, oh yeah MORE ARTS AND CRAFTS! I maybe am really excited about free tutorials for things. I found some cool things that I really really really want to make and it is getting me motivated to have a good clean workspace. Today after WW, I went to the local craft store to get a Smash notebook. Not only did I manage to get through the store with just buying the smash notebook and nothing else, when I got the register the sales clerk gave me a coupon that made the smash book 50% off!!!

Now to the new ww. OMG I love it. It is perfect for those of us who know the plan works but need more help with the program management. (I am so excited that the meeting I have been to have been more about things that don't relate to food than food all the time.) It is kind of strange but I feel like I have re-joined ww, without ever stopping. They moved the WW from down the street from my house to inside a little mall in a big mall in Emeryville and it has a tv and green chairs. The plan changed and I have been going to a different meeting the past few weeks because I keep not being able to go on Sunday mornings. I really like the vibe and the people that are at this new meeting. I really like the leader (I maybe have a little crush on him...) I do feel a bit of guilt after having gone to the same leader for over a year (I really really like her still), but I am really enjoying this new experience, it's shaking the program up a bit for me. I think I can probably manage these new meetings for a while too...

This week I lost 4.6 lbs!!! -37.2 total And this time I know how I did it. I made good choices at the grocery store and made good interesting food to eat and had good snacks at the ready and I tracked. Last week we talked about routines and I started to think about why I was going into the kitchen to eat. It was empowering. This week I am working days, and I did a lot of prep so I have meals ready to go to work and ideas for things to make when I get home. We'll see how well all my prep work works.

Here's me this week!