The Old Me is Dead & Gone...!

Wow! I didn't realize how long it has been since my last post on Blogspot.. almost a MONTH ago and believe me - so much as changed since then.... let me share :)

You may be surprised to learn for the first time (unless you an avid Facebook / MySpace Stalker of mine lol) that I'm sitting in the Hilton Hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana - for JOB TRAINING!! That's right.. yesterday (March 30) was my first day with the Muscular Dystrophy Association as a Health Care Services Coordinator. Essentially, I have thee most rewarding job in the company! Okay... so everyone has very rewarding positions.. but I'm very blessed to become the newest HCSC in Columbus, Ohio - they havn't had one in over a year.

So what does a Health Care Services Coordinator do?

Everything :) Okay, so not everything.. I serve mostly as a Liasion between MDA, Patients, Patient Families & Doctors. I'll attend Clinics with my Patients 3 days a week at OSU Medical Center & Nationwide Children's Hospital.. at these Clinics, the patients may get referrels for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy & Respritory Therapy. I'll be there as a Support System.. I'm also responsible for Support Groups in my Region / District for both Patients, Patient Families & Caregivers. And the coolest part... I'm the Camp Director for MDA Summer Camp in Columbus, Ohio from June 14-19, 2009! That's Right.... you can take the girl out of 4-H Camp, but you can't take the 4-H Camp out of the girl! I'll be applying my knowledge & skills from Camp Directing in the past to this camp... in 2008, there were 80 Campers who attended - and each camper is paired with a Counselor. WOW! 80 Counselors.. I have A LOT of Recruitment & Training to do.. but I have some prospects in mind...

In addition.. I'll also be working with the Program Coordinators to talk with potential & current sponsors about MDA Fundraising.. you've probably heard of the MDA Lock-Up's (Jail & Bail), the Shamrock Program (which ended today) and some of the others such as Bowl-A-Thons, Hop-A-Thons, Stride & Ride, Motorcycle Events & yes.. the Labor Day Tele-A-Thon with JERRY LEWIS!!

I have met some incredible people thus far w/ MDA who are becoming great friends. At our New Staff Training in Fort Wayne - we've reviewed Company Policies, Procedures, Sales Techniques, Programs, etc. It's been "information overload", but it's worth it. I'm excited about Thursday - which is my first day at the office.. and thanks to Kristin, I have a new pair of BEAUTIFUL black & white CHANEL Pearls to wear in style... love her =)

I think I've gained 10 pounds since I've been here... we've done nothing but eat amazing food! Even the Hotel Banquet food was stellar.. however, tonight's NY Strip Steak & Wine.... WON my heart (hint hint to any perspective boyfriends!). Thanks MDA for a great first 3 days!

Well it's almost 1am and I need to be awake at 7 - yikes! Please Pray for me in this new position.. I'm nervous about what is to come .... but I know that putting my Faith in the Lord will get me to greater heights!

Cheers*

Almost to the 10 Pound Mark!

So last week ... greeted me on Monday Morning w/ the Flu-Bug! And oh what fun that was! Luckily, I was feeling better by Wednesday and eating normally again on Thursday. So I'm back and I'm hopeing to update this more often.. there is so much going on lately!

I complained of course, with the rest of the world, when I woke up w/ the flu on Monday Morning.. but truth be told, I appreciated having the flu more than a sinus infection! The flu comes & it's gone... it doesn't tend to linger and for that I'm happy! It also brought along a nice 6.6 pound weight loss - all water weight of course, but a loss none the less!

I'm doing better w/ Weight Watchers than I have been luckily. The 6.6 loss was the jump start I needed, but this week, not only do I need to maintain that loss, but work towards another one. I am 1.2 pounds away from a 10 pound total loss ... I can almost feel that Blue Ribbon in my hands now & it's super exciting!

Us girls ordered our Bridesmaids Dresses on Saturday.. being measured is a HUGE reality check that I wish I would have done earlier.. now I know that I cannot get any "bigger", I just hope they have to do LOTS of alterations to make my dress smaller before the Wedding Day of 9.19.09!

I have 2 job interviews this week.... Tuesday @ 10am with London Country Club to Serve/Bartend as a part time job & Wednesday @ 2pm with the Muscular Dystrophy Association! The MDA Job would be HUGE for me.. my position (Health Care Services Coordinator) would allow me to work with the Organization, Patients, Families & Doctors as a Resource person for all their needs. I would also be responsible for Planning & Conducting the MDA Summer Camp in June for the Columbus area... quite frankly, I think this job is PERFECT for me and I'm really looking forward to my 2 hour interview on Wednesday at the Columbus Office. I'm nervous, but who wouldn't be? I'll keep everyone updated & please keep your fingers crossed!

Well, that's about everything! I need to do some basic research on MDA & the dystrophies themselves today to prepare for my interview.. yikes!!

Until the next time... Cheers!

C'mon Everybody Gotta Move Your Body to the *Bombshell Stomp*

Hello, Hello Everyone!

Since I'm no longer employed.. I also don't have much access to internet - which is why there are a lack of posts on page... thanks to the *free* internet at the WONDERFUL London Public Library, I'm back for a short time being!

Week #2 went ... okay. I guess! But things on Week #3 are going MUCH better! I did have some Fast Food, but nothing to break the bank! As of this morning, I have LOST 8 total pounds, so hopefully I can keep that off before Thursday rolls around, and even lose some more! However, right now, I want to maintain that 8 pounds.. which is hard enough itself!

I have some wonderful Job Opportunities coming my way.... they include City of Urbana Police Dispatcher, a position in the Champaign County Probate Court, being a Teacher's Aide for WSOS Head Start in London / Mt Sterling and another position in Montgomery County that I'll reveal when it's officially posted. I'm SUPER excited and hope to nail something soon enough! I had a job interview.. 2 of them actually... with Applebees in Grove City, so I'm considering that for Part Time work - we shall see!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week... I'm recovering from a gross sinus infection.. but things are looking to be on the mend! Have a wonderful weekend!

Cheers! L*

On to Week #2

Weight Watchers Meeting #2 didn't go half bad last night! Aside from craming 40 people in a room made for 20 due to a funeral in our normal room - I enjoy going to these meetings because I realize there are so many people out there like myself - looking for a place to turn to, a place where they can face their weight struggles & not be labeled for doing so. It is a safe place of sorts, but it's also a place to learn! I had a rough time getting on track w/ WW this past week... however, I 'only' gained .4 pounds. Not 4 Pounds! But .4 pounds! I still believe that if I would have taken my Flip Flops off before getting on the scale I would have stayed Even or lost .2 LOL

So here is how I fared with my goals from Week #1:

No Alcohol ... After splitting Margaritas w/ Kristin on Friday & Beers w/ Liz, Amy, Kyle & Adam on Saturday... I didn't live up to this one.. but it was in moderation and not an everyday thing!

No Fast Food... SUCCESS! It has officially been since December 30, 2008 w/ NO Fast Food!

Work Out 3 Times for 30 Minutes.. meh, we're working on this! I earned 18 Activity Points for Walking.. so I'm not writing this off as a complete 'failure'!

Goals for Week #2:

*Limit Alcohol Intake .. I know I wont be able to avoid it completely, so I'm limiting it to 5 drinks per night out & limiting my going out to the weekends only!

*Work Out 3 Times for 30 Minutes.. I'm unemployed beginning Monday, I have NO excuses!

*No Fast Food... I'd like to make this 2 months w/out fast food!

*Check All My Boxes... This will be tough, by boxes I mean the Boxes on my Food Booklet for Fruits & Veggies, Dairy, Liquids, Lean Protein, Multivitamins, etc.

In other Life News! It is my last day at the Extension Office today.. I'm so bummed, but it doesn't seem "real" either. I feel like I'll be back next week... just as normal. THANK YOU Stephanie for sending me the most beautiful flowers (I'll post pictures soon!) & Box of Chocolates.. My Office for the wonderful Going Away Cake... Janet (my boss) for the Card & Gift Card... Arlene for Lunch yesterday @ Salvi's.. Carol for the Gift Set & Laura for the Card & Money! I am SO BLESSED w/ the greatest people in my life... truly, I am!

I'll be heading North this afternoon to visit my Mom for the weekend! I'll post more on Monday.. so until then...

Cheers!

It's Weigh In Day!

It's Thursday! Weight Watchers meeting #2 is tonight.. however, don't expect a "5 pound loss!" just yet..

I would, however, like to say THANK YOU to everyone who has made this past week so much fun! I've realized over the past couple of days that I am so blessed to have a wonderful support group of Family & Friends who have given me so much comfort lately. 6 deaths & Job Loss is tough to deal with.... But I'm holding my head high!

Arlene treated Josh (My Big Brudda Duffey!) and I to lunch today @ Salvi's Bistro in Hilliard.. if you've never been there, you have to try it! I boxed up half my lunch (yay!) although I'm sure I could have ate it all.. so delicious! I've been back on track since Monday w/ WW.. and I feel great! Learning not to over-eat is such a blessing, I feel better already and am looking forward to Week #2 beginning tomorrow.

In other life news... I'm not going to Louisville =( for the first time in 8 years! Can ya believe it? That's pretty good for a female LOL since usually Louisville is a boy's trip. Good Luck to the entire second family who's down there pulling & don't forget to have a few beers @ 4th Street Live for me!

I'm heading home to Perrysburg tomorrow to spend Valentine's Weekend w/ my Mom! She promised to buy me slipcovers for my Couch & Love Seat if I did! She can't go to Louisville either because of work, but I'm looking forward to the weekend at home. I havn't been there since Christmas.. wow.

As far as the new boy in my life... we have a date next weekend =) He's working in Indiana for the next 2 weeks is coming home on the weekends.. I'm looking forward to it!

I discovered the London Public Library yesterday & even got a Library Card! I LOVE to read and don't do it quite often enough.. hopefully this will keep me occupied over the next week while I'm unemployed..

Well that is it for now! Tomorrow is my last day @ the office.. I'm sure going to miss all 739 of my 4-H'ers & Volunteers.. I hope they realize that!

Happy Thursday! Cheers*

Case of the Mondays

First of all.. I'm sitting here in tears. Someone please tell my Mom that it's very unprofessional to put References directly on your Resume.. I'm so frustrated. Completely Frustrated. Which I'm sure every Unemployed American is too..

Anyways..

What a Weekend! I'll admit, that I didn't stay on course w/ Weight Watchers at all this weekend. Quite honestly, this was the 3 days I've had in a long while and I certainly needed. El Vaquero Margaritas, 2 days worth of shopping, shoes on sale for $11.99 & my best girls? What more could I possibly need?!? Okay... so a Food Coach would be nice... here's how the weekend panned out:

Friday Night Dinner @ El Vaquero.. Kristin twisted my arm into splitting a pitcher of Raspberry Margaritas..

Saturday, I was doing really well until Liz and I ended up at BW-3's to meet Amy, Adam & Kyle for dinner & beers. For whatever reason around guys, I get this urge to "show off" my stellar beer drinking skills by keeping up with the boys. Now granted, this doesn't always end 'pretty' but I was one up on the boys all night... then I figured my Point Calculations for WW.. oops.

Sunday, us girls did some heavy shopping @ Tuttle Mall.. Food Court Pizza from Sbarro's is my WEAKNESS & again I gave in. Megs & I really wanted Chinese... they were closed.. so Chinese was on the menu for dinner last night.

And while the weekend was super great.. it's kind of embarressing to write down all those places & great foods we indulged in this weekend. Maybe this blog will work out after all :)

However.. I am proud to say that I boxed up half my BW-3's & half of my chinese from yesterday to have as left overs.... not only am I saving money this way by creating a small lunch for the next day, but I'm teaching myself to learn the signals of being full. Rather than being over stuffed. It makes a huge difference in the way a person feels... I recommend you try it sometime!

For lunch today I had the leftover Chinese.. not quite sure what I'm having for dinner tonight. I did earn 18 Activity Points this weekend for the all walking we did while we were shopping - I was very happy about that. Not to mention, I didn't spend much money while we were shopping.. only on a sweet new pair of sunglasses to match Kristin's & a new pair of black patent leather heels for $11.99. No girl can pass up that!

Check back for more updates.. and there is the possibility of a new boy in my life. Nothing serious yet, but you just never know!

Cheers*

Initial Weigh-In .... Dun Dun Dun!

Last Night, I attended Weight Watchers Meeting #1! Things have changed quite significantly since the last time I did Weight Watchers.. for those familar with the program, they have combined their Flex & Core Plans to have one "Momentum Plan". It's designed for you to learn how to eat more filling foods for the same "Point" values as eating something less.

Honestly.. my biggest challenge will be Fruits & Veggies. I'm not a vegetable person AT ALL.. Corn, Broccoli & Couliflower are about the only veggies I'll consume! So I'm also making it my goal to expand my horizons and try different foods - especially in the veggie department! I think Salads look incredibly delicious, however, I can't seem to 'stomach' lettuce.. I'd really like to change that!

The Initial Weigh-In .. Wow. I'm glad that'll be the last time I ever have to see those numbers flash on a scale of any kind! My first Weight Loss goal set by the Program itself is 12.5 pounds. I wont be weighing myself daily.. only on the days of my Weight Watchers Weigh-In's which are every Thursday @ 6:00pm. Here we go!

I'm going grocery shopping tonight.. luckily, when I first did the program - many of the changes I've made in my grocery shopping habits have stuck with me. I have "weaned" myself from 2% milk to 1% milk and buy a 1/2 Gallon of Skim for my Cereal. I've increased Fiber in my diet, drink V8 Fusions to increase my Liquids, Fruits & Veggies. I've basically cut out Beef and eat lean Turkey (It's MUCH cheaper & tastier!) and have grown a love for Wheat Bread.

In our program last night - we talked about our daily intake of Liquids & Goals for ourselves over this next week. After all, small changes equal big success.

My goals for this next week include:

*Continue not to eat Fast Food (I havn't had ANY Fast Food of ANY kind since 12.30.08!)

*No Alcohol.

*Work Out 3 times a week for a half hour daily

Wish me luck!

L*