Life of the Party

Empty Classroom                 This is our last teacher workday, and it's bittersweet as I pack up this year's paperwork and prepare to lock up for the summer. The school years seem to be getting shorter and the students seem to be growing up way too fast. I spent the majority of my day going through my lesson plan books to see what worked best with this group.                  Hopefully I'll get to move up with this group of students. It's always nice to have them for multiple school years, because you don't have to "figure them out" again. Maybe I'll get to teach a new subject too!                  The point in the day where everything gets real is when I turn in my keys for the last time and turn in my sign out sheet. This is my sixth year here and there is never a dull moment. Each year we get to try new things and our students get new c...

    I think my goto drink has got to be vitamin water. The best flavor hands down is acai-blueberry-pomegranate. Not being a fan of plain water is very frustrating due to the fact that I always have to look for something else. With WLS, I still avoid all sodas and carbonated drinks.  If you guys have any suggestions please feel free to leave me some feedback.  This morning's menu:  1 Zone perfect cookie dough bar (180 cal) 1 vitamin water zero 

     The reality of weight loss surgery is that there will be days when being around food is terrible. The amazing staff here at my school cooks us breakfast at the end of the year, and in Southern tradition you have to eat if it's offered. Fried food is one thing that I said goodbye to six months ago. I do not want to start that habit back, because it isn't good for my body.       Gravy is something else that is no longer a food that I will eat. The reality is that sometimes you will have to hurt someone's feelings about their cooking. The chosen method for me is, "I'm just not hungry right now, maybe later." When and if they press the issue I'll be honest, "If I eat that it will make me feel sluggish and bad." So, this morning I had to have this same conversation with the ladies at work. Their food smelled amazing and I really wanted some, but the fact that I don't want to give in is really what stops me.       People are s...

Summer       The books are packed up, the students have left, and the hallways are silent. This time of year is filled with teacher training sessions, luncheons, and phone calls. It's been an amazingly tough school year, but it's all over and I'm glad it happened. Teachers transform into new creatures during summer break. We don't have no where to be and no scheduled classes to teacher, so goodbye early 5:00am mornings. We are creatures of habit and lost when those warm rays hit our faces.        This time three weeks from now I'll be on the beach watching to waves crash. There will be no lesson plans or papers to grade. I'll miss it all, but the summer months are mine and I'm not willing to share that time with any extra responsibilities. Summer Vacation The halls are silent as can be The ocean is all teachers can see Posters and anchor charts are thrown away Teachers still don't know the way Laughter is going out of the class...

        The weight loss is still slow, but I'm finally down to 225lbs. It feels absolutely amazing to know that I'm so close to meeting some of my goals. I think it's a great thing that the weight isn't coming off too quickly. I still encounter people who say I should be so much smaller, but my doctor said that I'm still on track. If other people would mind their own business maybe I wouldn't struggle as much.       I decided to share a picture with you all to show my progress. Pictures say a thousand words, right? I hope you see the progress and determination I have. I still remember when those shorts were too tight to wear. I now have to wear a belt. Being happier is still worth all the process that I went through. This has been a very eventful school year and I have been through so many trials. I think everything happens for a reason. When bad things happen they are usually followed by something positive. This is my time to truly shine and ...