Diet...It's Just a Four Letter Word

Diet is a shitty word isn't it?

Hee hee. 

I mean as soon as I even think about that word I get all anxious. My mind starts to go a million miles an hour about what I can eat, what I can't eat, how much, how little. Calories, points, carbs, fat, macros!!! You know that frickin' roller coaster.

However, we as a society have made the word dirty. The definition of diet goes a little something like this: the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

I don't know when exactly this started to happen but I'm guessing somewhere in the 70's and people have just gotten fatter and fatter since then. But the dieting industry has gotten richer and richer. 

I've been trying to lose weight since I was probably 16...when I weighed a whopping 125 lbs. Now, to some of you out there maybe that screams fat to you, but I've give anything to go back to that girl and tell her she is okay. She is not fat. 

Since then I've tried pretty much every diet known to man. I've lost weight on most of them but have never been able to keep it off because...I don't keep it up! What?! You can't go back to pizza, pop and cookies everyday? Well, fuck that then.

And Viola...here I am.

I vowed in this post to never get back on that roller coaster and I haven't. However, I am doing something. I have to do something. I'm 46 years old and overweight. I have back issues and a 10 year old son who needs me to be healthy in body and mind. Not dieting doesn't give me the green light to stuffing my face with whatever the hell I feel like, drinking gallons of pop and not moving my ass off the couch. That's not healthy for anyone, even those skinny girls I'd love to strangle! I kid ;)

However, this is different from what I've done in the past. I decided to combine a few approaches, after doing a little research. Two things I know work, but also two things I've never been successful with individually.

Tracking Calories and Carbs.

  

I've tried low carb too many times to count and I can NEVER stick with it because well...I NEED CARBS!

I absolutely feel like this. It's a dangerous situation for everyone!

So, needless to say that approach doesn't work for me. Or for anyone who wants to talk to me. Ha!

Then there is calorie counting. I do a smidgen better with this but not fabulous, obviously, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.

The problem with counting calories is I tend to gravitate towards foods that aren't real. You know, lots of frozen meals and low- calorie prepackaged snacks. This type of eating leaves me extremely hungry and unsatisfied. Not to mention this kind of food is usually full of salt, which... is not my friend.

Eating well and finding what works for your body is absolutely not one size fits all. What works for me may not work for you. Take my wife for example. She hates to keep track of anything and that is why she does so well with low carb. Avoid carbs. That's it. Some people thrive on measuring, counting and figuring every calorie, point or macro.

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm a Gemini.

Realizing all of this about myself and accepting it is what has brought me to where I am right now. Tracking both.

It's definitely a balancing act because lots of low carb or no carb foods can be high in calories and on the other end of the tightrope, foods that are low calorie can be FULL of sugar! It's a bit of game and there is a learning curve but so far it is working and I don't feel so CRAZY.

Right now I am trying to stay around 1500 calories and 100 grams of carbs. I don't worry too much about fat...right now. We'll see what happens as time goes on. 

I'm on Day 4 which may not sound like a long time, but lately I've been done by Day 3 so I feel pretty good about this accomplishment. I also turned down a donut yesterday...haven't done that in months! 

I'll keep you posted in the upcoming weeks. 

Peace! 

~Ashli

Goals-Week 2...

Actually it's week three but Spring Break happened in between, which consisted of absolutely ZERO goals.

Zero, Zilch, Nada...unless you count doing nothing as a goal. 

Oh wait, I did have one goal and that was to clean out our office/catch all room. I made a huge dent in it so that counts for something. You can at least move around in there and see the floor!

First, let's talk about week one and how well I did. Or didn't do. Ha! 

Goal one was to go to bed by 10 pm every week night. This goal was a success, surprisingly! Spring break brought on some late nights but I will pick this back up this week. 

My second goal for week one was to drink 64 ounces of water each day. Huge FAIL! This is a struggle for me as I discussed in my original post. 

The third goal was to eat around 1800 calories a day. Bahahaha! I made it exactly three days, which by the way is always when I tend to struggle with any goal. I don't know what it is about day three but it's a thorn in my side every.single.time. 

Goal four was a SCORE! I finally finished To Kill a Mockingbird!! Whooo hoo!! Yippy Skippy! And...I actually started a new book. Well, it's not a new book but one we've had for awhile. I actually got it for my wife. Robin Roberts' Everybody's Got Something. I'm about half way through and so far it's holding my attention! 

Last but not least. Goal five was to engage more fully with Sky. I did much better at this but I wouldn't exactly count it as a complete success. I did stay off social media more but I also allowed him more time on his iPad than usual because of spring break. We did engage more but it could be so much better!

So, that brings us to this week. 

Goal #1 

Drink 64 frickin' ounces of water every frickin' day! No explanation needed. Just drink the damn water already. 

Goal #2

Be on time to work every day. I talked about my desire to rise earlier in this post. Rising early and the same time each day will make getting to work on time easier. Being on time to work will make my day less stressful. I don't know why I fight it so. 

Goal #3 

Walk four times, at least 30 minutes each time. I desperately need to do this one. I haven't exercised on purpose with consistency in months! 

I'm having surgery in a couple of months and going under scares the hell out of me. Somehow I feel like if I'm in a little better shape the risks of anesthetic will be lower. Fingers crossed. Supposedly having a baby is almost as risky as going under the knife. Pray for me ;)

You've probably noticed I didn't mention anything about the 1800 calories. I'm trying something new this week but not making it a goal. I don't want to get back on that ride. 

Fewer goals, increased focus. 

Have a great week and good luck with whatever goals you've set! 

~Ashli

Time to Rise and Shine!

I am NOT an early riser. AT ALL.

But I want to be. 

I wasn't always this bad but over the years I've gotten worse. Once I went back to college I stayed up late doing homework instead of doing it while Sky was awake. What became a habit out of necessity at the time has turned into just a habit. 

I have been working on going to bed earlier...one of my goals from a week ago. It's spring break so I haven't done very well this week but I plan on starting back up next week. Eventually I'd like to pretty much rise the same time everyday. Be a little more consistent. 

Why do I want to be an early riser? 

• My family. They are early risers and it makes me feel guilty when I'm not up with them. The day tends to get off schedule which in turn adds stress by the end of the day. 

• Productivity. It has been proven that getting up early sets a person up to be more productive. I desperately need this, especially on the weekends and breaks. 

• Be on time! This is a big one for me. Not only am I not an early riser but this subsequently makes me late as well. Being late makes me stressed and in a funky mood. I am rushed and not able to get all of my morning things accomplished like I'd like. This adds stress to my wife because some of these things fall on her to get done, which is not fair. If I can eliminate that I'd be happier and so would my family. 

• Feel better physically. I've been struggling with back issues as you may have remembered. Getting up earlier would get me moving earlier which would get rid of the pain earlier. And again ready for my day earlier. Plus, once I've had surgery and the pain is better, I'd like to begin working out in the mornings again. 

I really believe doing this one thing could be life changing for me and my family. I know it sounds like I'm being a bit dramatic but I believe it! My family tends to follow my lead and if I can get into this routine I know our family will benefit immensely. 

Are you an early riser? If so, what are your secrets? I'd love to hear them!

My best, 

~Ashli

Is Being Average All Bad?

Normally I never want to be just average. I mean who does?

However, in one area I would give just about anything to be average and that is in size.

According to the website Livestrong, the average weight for the American woman is 166.2. The only catch here is that the average height is 5'4".

I'm only 5'1. Hmph.

Can't change that. 

My driver’s licence says I weigh 160. I got really close to this weight about 20 years ago and it's just kind of stuck with me.

It's my goal weight. I know to some people this is still really heavy but for me, I'd be just fine!

At that weight I'd be pretty close to average.

In most areas of my life I would never settle for average. I did not want average grades when I went back to school. I've never been an average employee. I don't have an average marriage, by societies terms, and I did not become a mother in an average way.

But for this I'd "settle" for average. I'd give myself a break, cut myself some slack. Be just like most people. Nothing wrong with that. 

Mostly because I think this is attainable and quite possibly realistic to maintain. Also because I believe it's perfectly fine. 

110 pounds is NOT realistic and for damn sure not possible to maintain.

I didn't weigh that in high-school. Never been close to that as an adult.

I've had a baby, I'm over 40 and have absolutely ZERO desire to starve or run 5 miles a day! 

How did average get a bad rap?

Why is it considered a bad thing to be "middle of road" or ordinary? 

"Mediocrity, as a goal, sucks. But mediocrity, as a result, is OK."-Mark Manson

I mean, what is so wrong with being average? In most areas of our lives we are all average if you really think about. If we were all exceptional, all the time, that would be the new average. 

Being exceptional is exhausting and being outstanding all the time is unrealistic. 

For this area of my life, I will strive to be average and I'm very okay with that. 

~Ashli 

My Next Move

Some of you may already know that I've decided to move back into the classroom next year. 

I will be teaching 1st grade! Yay! 

Why you ask? 

Teaching is a journey, like many things in life. Even if you stay in one grade, in the same school for thirty years, it's still a journey. 

Some teachers don't know from the beginning of their career exactly where they want to be. I am one of those teachers :) 

Actually I am one of those people. I change my mind like the weather in Kansas! I'm a Gemini therefor I am two people...at least! 

When I was in college I had to choose an area of concentration in addition to my K-6 Education Degree. Originally I wanted my emphasis to be middle school English. However, after fulfilling my 36 hours of observations in a middle school I decided that was in fact NOT my cup of tea! Without a shadow of a doubt. No way. Uh-uh. No can do. 

Too many hormones, too much crying and too many smart mouths. 

Um, no thank you. 

That is not a place for me. Middle school teachers are saints. I know myself well enough to know that middle school would be the death of me or at least my teaching career. 

Back to why I'm making the switch. Being in the classroom is so much different than Special Education and there are good and bad in both. 

For me it's just that I really miss having my own classroom and so many things that go along with that. Special education can be very cut in dry as it should be most of the time. There are very specific skills that students need help with and for the most part that is what we focus on. Many teachers love this part and there is some comfort in knowing that pretty much everyday will look the same, but I get bored. 

I am a person that actually thrives and does best when I have almost too much on my plate. Too much idle time for me usually means I don't get anything done. 

There will be some things I'll miss about sped and I'm quite sure there will be many times at the beginning of the year that I will ask myself, "what were you thinking?!". There will probably be tears and lots of wine, the drinking kind ;)

Because first graders are little and needy and sometimes a little whiny(not the drinking kind). 



I really do think I will love it though! 

And boy will I be so happy to be in a non testing grade because I'm done with that for awhile. It's enough already. 

I'm so excited to share more when the new year starts here on the blog! 

~Ashli

Goals-Week 1

I'm going to start something new this week! 

Stating my goals...in writing. Supposedly it helps. (wink) 

I've pretty much just been living like a teenager on summer break for the last month or so. Definitely since Christmas break...maybe I'm sad it had to end. 

Some of you know that I am struggling with chronic pain that is a result of a slipped disc along with spondylolisthesis, which is when the vertebra slips forward. 

Ouch! I know right! 

I will be having surgery at the end of the school year. Thank God! 

However, I want to get myself back into some sort of control in a few areas of my life. 

So, I thought why not be like those other people and put them in writing for all the world to see. Or the few people who come here in my case. 

Goal #1

Go to bed by 10 pm on week nights. 

Man do I struggle with this one. I'm such a night owl and this happened when I went back to college and discovered Netflix! 

I know that getting enough sleep is vital to so many other areas in my life so that is why I made this goal number ONE! 

Goal #2 

Drink 64 oz of water/tea every day! You'll notice that this goal does not just involve water and that's because for this week I'll feel especially accomplished if I am able to get this much non caloric, non carbonated liquid into my body! 



Goal #3

Eat no more than 1800 calories per day! 

1800 calories?! That's still a lot. 

Why yes, yes it is. But...let's be real here. I've been eating waaaaaaay more than this every day so I'm starting here. Next, week I'll lower them again. 

You may remember one of my previous posts about getting off the crazy roller coaster of dieting. 

This 1800 calories is the only restriction I'm giving myself...I can consume them in whatever way I want. In other words, no "bad" foods or off limit foods. That's what starts the crazy! 

Goal #4

Finish To Kill a Mockingbird!! No joke I have been reading this book, off and on, since December of 2015!!!! 

Good Gawd. 

There are so many other books I want to read but won't let myself until I finish this one. 

Not sure why I'm struggling to finish it. It's a pretty good book...just not my normal genre. 

Goal #5

Fully engage with Sky more. Which means limiting social media for myself and limiting Ipad and TV for him, especially on the weekends. 

Spring break is coming and I do NOT want to spend it by me being on social media and him on YouTube. 

I will set specific goals for our spring break next week. But this week I just want to be more present for him. 



I won't go this far...yet. I have given up Facebook for over a week before but still continued with Instagram...maybe next week I'll do both! Gasp! 

Well, there you have it. Five goals. Very obtainable you would think. 




~Ashli 

Dr. Seuss is on the Loose...and He's Got Cookies!

I love, love, love Dr. Seuss and I've been wanting to make cookies every year since I've become a teacher!

I finally did it!

This is not one that I grew up reading...not that I remember anyway, but the kids love it! This is a good choice for repetition which in turn helps kids with fluency. 

And you thought you came here just for cookies ;)

Now, my cookies do not look the fish in this book...but that is okay. You see, when I first stared making cookies I was so hard on myself because there are some cookie people out there that CAN make cookies that look just like these fish! 

I am not one of those people. 

And you know what? Nobody cares. Well nobody that eats my cookies cares. And kids for sure don't care! 

Mine started like this :) I outlined in black, flooded with blue and dropped these eyes! 

So easy! 

You can absolutely do your own eyes, by piping white icing on the next day and then black on top of that. But this will save you a step. 

Here's the finished product! 

Along with the Fish I also did "Green Eggs and No Ham" cookies...the green kind of bled a bit, but still super cute! 

Next year I'm going to tackle Lorax and Truffula tree cookies! 

~Ashli