Stuff...

So...I haven't posted in about a month and thought it was about time! First, let me say that some major things have occurred since my last blog:
1. I finished my Master's program. (You may now call me Master Jen). Ha.
2. I hit the 50 lb. loss mark! I'm feeling good but really need to "step it up" in the exercise department. Pun intended, of course.
3. I'm considering buying a house. Now's the time to buy...but I still have some reservations.

You see, I'm one of those types of individuals who need constant change. I thrive on it. I crave it. I can't stand the thought of coming across as just "ordinary", which is why I don't always like to do what everyone expects or follow the crowd. So, that means I have a difficult time with the idea of buying a house and putting down some roots. It's not that I'm afraid of commitment. Rather, I have such an adventuresome spirit and still imagine myself moving to Europe for a couple years...or moving half-way across the country...or...do you have any ideas for me? I was hoping to "get it out of my system" but I have succumbed to the realization that it will never go away. I finally understand why my mom moved our furniture around several times a year when I was growing up. It was her need for change, which is now my need for change.

I'd like to pretend that when God blesses me with a husband, I'll be able to stifle the craving. Yeah...I know better than that. God should probably be preparing my husband-to-be with extraordinary reflexes and senses because otherwise, he might be tripping over some furniture! :)

My brain, the calorie calculator...

100 this morning...350 for lunch...150 for a snack...This is how my brain works every day. I've stopped thinking about what I'm eating. Instead, I think of how many calories I'm eating. It's amazing how my brain can keep a running subtotal each day. How this is possible when I can't even remember what I wore yesterday, just baffles me!

Well, 42.2 pounds later...I hope it can keep up!

120 sticks of butter...gone!

Oh, food...FOOD! Real food sounds great right about now. Mmmm...there's just nothing like a giant salad, or a piece of grilled chicken, or...and I digress.

As most of you know, I have been on a weight loss journey. I'm in a special program through my doctor's office to get my weight under control. It involves only consuming 800-900 calories per day, drinking a lot of water, taking a vitamin, and exercising quite a bit. For the first 12 weeks of the program, I can only eat what I purchase from the Dr's office. During weeks 13-17, I'll be able to incorporate some real food back into my diet.

It's certainly been tough but needed! Last night marked my half-way point in the program and I have lost 30 lbs! Or, 120 sticks of butter. I like to think of it that way because as much as I like butter on my food, it sounds gross, greasy, and oily by itself. So, my weight loss journey will always be marked in sticks of butter. (For those of you who aren't very good at math, just note you'll have to take the # of sticks of butter and divide by 4 to figure out how much weight I've lost.)

I'm sure I'll always struggle with this throughout my life...BUT I'm getting healthier, feeling better, and able to fit into some of those clothes that got pushed to the back of my closet! I encourage all of you who need to get healthier to do so! If I can do it, you can do it! Now, go enjoy that giant salad and piece of grilled chicken for me.

Drink and be merry!

So, today I toured two of West Michigan's wineries with my friends Carrey and Beth. I can't believe how busy the wineries were...and how expensive a bottle of wine can be! I ended up buying a dessert-type-of-wine that can be combined with apple cider and mulling spices. I'm pretty sure I'll be trying that during my Girl's Weekend coming up in November. Yum!