Playing Catch-up

The past couple weeks have been insane. I look back on my schedule from past weeks that were so busy, and I just wonder, how the heck did I get through that week?! well 2 weeks ago on monday, i lost 1.8 for a total of 17 pounds. and then a few days ago i wasn't able to go to weight watchers but I figure by now my total is probably between 20 and 25 pounds. It feels so good to be that much lighter! I'm starting to love myself and be proud of myself.

Well, some other exciting news, auditions for the school musical were a few days ago and callbacks were last night, and the show is cast, and I GOT A PART! the show we're doing is called Aida. and there are not that many leads, only 3 female leads and 2 male leads. well, i got one of the female leads:) my part is Nehebka. I'm so excited, and I feel so lucky and blessed to have gotten a part. I can't wait to start rehearsals, I love the cast and it is going to be so fun!

Hope everyone has a fabulous thanksgiving! Some pointers I'll be following for tomorrow when it comes to feasting on that delicious meal......
-Eat breakfast/lunch before your thanksgiving feast! even if it's just a piece of fruit or something little, it will help you show up not feeling totally famined and starving, and will help avoid SUPER overeating. (yes it is thanksgiving, we will all "over-eat", but let's not kill ourselves) :)
-Only pick food items that you are just dying to eat. For me, there are some thanksgiving foods that I always just sort of eat, because you're supposed! foods like turkey and stuffing....but turkey and stuffing I don't really even like very much! so avoid "obligation" foods that you won't even really enjoy.
-Don't get seconds. I used to always think at thanksgiving, "well, i'm just getting seconds because I didn't have room on my plate for everything I wanted the first time around". haha oh this is so bad! if that happens, um HELLO! definitely a sign you need to get smaller portions or not as much food, or if you want to cheat, just stack food on top of the other so you don't technically have to get seconds.:)
-Enjoy yourself, and enjoy your food! ummm hello, on this diet, i think the last time I actually enjoyed what I was eating was....um yeah I honestly can't remember. but I freaking love thanksgiving food! so i am going to enjoy it and just know it's a holiday, and i have a lot to be thankful for, including one delicious splurging meal:)

Speaking of being thankful, today we had an amazing lesson in gratitude in seminary, perfect for thanksgiving time. Some thoughts I'd like to share...

I am 1 in 2,500 people (out of ALL of Heavenly Father's children) who was born in the United States, and born into the gospel. WOW. That right there makes me feel so lucky and blessed. And not even to mention talents, abilities, a supportive family, good friends, and so many other blessings. When I think about that, I can't believe how much I complain and how MISERABLE i make myself whenever I'm ungrateful or want something more or think my life could be so better. It sounds cliche, but let's really count all our blessings this year and instead of thinking what we don't have, let's think of all that we do have and how blessed we are!!

love, haylee

Four Pounds and illegal immigration

Last week, I lost 4 pounds! i was so proud of myself! I really had to crack down after my one-pound let down the week before. Total so far? 15.2. And the best part about all this? people noticing and complimenting me:) BEST. FEELING. EVER. I've gotta make this quick, cuz I've got LOTS of homework to do...but I'll just end on a thought..

This book I'm reading for English, it's called the Tortilla Curtain. It's set in southern california in the early 90's and deals with a lot of issues and themes that our country (especially Arizona) is facing right now, with illegal immigration and what not. I'm only about half way through the book so far, but before I read it, my mind was set in what my dad and other adults had raised me to think (and i love my dad to death and still respect him and his opinions 100%) but, just that all Mexicans are bad criminals and need to get out of here. But reading this book has helped me see the other side of it..the perspective of an illegal couple living without a home and doing anything they can to fulfill the American dream. And there's also the other point of view of a white American couple who shares the same beliefs as the average white person living in Arizona/California who has to deal with these issues. So it's very interesting.

But anyway, I just really love being able to form my own opinion and think about things differently, not just how adults have told me; although i HAVE stuck with most of the ideas that i've been taught growing up:) The Tortilla Curtain, a very thought provoking book. I LOVE books that get you thinking. NOT just that entertain you. I've learned to appreciate the fact that just because a book is harder to read or it may seem slow, it doesn't mean it's not good or boring! It just means that there is so much to think about! Ahh love it. Love reading.....which i better go do:) Have a good week!

Chugging Along....

Yay, for once, a post NOT totally centered around losing weight! ha. well for anyone who cares, this week I lost one pound even. That's the smallest amount I've lost so far, but eh whatever, I'm just so glad I didn't gain weight! with my aunt Briley's wedding, and Halloween, it was a CRAZY, HECTIC week and I didn't really stay on plan..but i will take a pound! so my total now, 11.2 pounds lost. :) not bad. just gotta keep chuggin' along!


Speaking of Briley's wedding and Halloween, here are some fun pictures:)
Briley looked soooo pretty. and everything about the wedding was just fabulous!:) including epic dancing/partying at the reception:) I only lost my voice..yep:)

And for Halloween, ohhhh boy. haha. A whole big group of us went to Schnepf farms on Saturday night. We were a big nerd-herd slash gang with some adorable nerds and swaggin' gangstas! Oh and I think there was a christmas elf and fairy thrown in the mix too;)

Representtttt

fre-e-e-e-fressshhhhhh.

oh yeah...rollin' like a big shot..

this is how we livvve

G'ing it up at Taco Bell

I had to get out of character for just a few smiley pictures:)

And on Sunday night, I kept the commandments and lived it up doing lots of makeup work from missing school thursday and friday from the wedding.:)

I also have THE busiest month ahead of me. Holy crap. Like, every single day has something in it. I've got choir-president-duties to deal with, research papers, solo and ensemble/regional auditions, y.w. in excellence i have to do a project for, the school's musical auditions/rehearsals quickly approaching, my piano students' recital next week.....AHHH! How am I going to balance everything?! and with the holidays coming soon?! ahh! I can' do it! Psh, wait yes I can. How? prayer, reading your scriptures and going to church every week! ha jk, that was my attempt to be funny...ha..haha...hahahaha:) ok by everyone!!!:)

feelin' like a star, you can't stop my shine....

Today I reached a big goal! This week I lost 1.8 for a total of 10 pounds! Like I've said earlier, I've registered and re-registered for weight watchers probably a total of about 8 times....and only ONCE have I actually gotten to 10 pounds. and that time, it was when I was a lot younger and my goal was to lose only 10 pounds. Haha:) well I still obviously have a lot to go, and am no-where near lifetime, but I'm getting there.

And tonight, my friends Kelsey, Savannah, Stephanie, and Taylor and I all went running at a track. This weather is so perfect and amazing and I felt soooo good. Before, I only limited myself to the gym. And I've realized that i HATE the tread mill. It's the devil. But running on the track in the cool night air, without my ipod, able to run to the beat of my own thoughts...it's sort of indescribable:) I feel so good. I can't say that enough. all this hard work has really paid off. a few people have been telling me they can tell I've lost weight. for me, that is such an awesome thing to hear. this makes all the hard work and sacrifice more than worth it.

Well jeez...I feel like all I've been talking about on here is losing weight! umm...well lately I've just been busy with school (of course), stress, teaching piano, hanging out with friends, the usual:) I've been loving life. I feel so blessed by my Heavenly Father. The past few years have not been the easiest. And now I'm realizing that it's true that Heavenly Father will always pull through in the end and support us and bless us if we remain faithful during our struggles. And I'm so grateful for the past few years because if every little thing didn't happen exactly the way it did, I wouldn't be the person I am today. That also makes me so excited for the future for more opportunities to learn grow, experience things, strengthen my testimony, and learn from different trials. I'm so grateful for life and the Plan and Heavenly Father and my Savior and my family and my friends. I hope everyone has a wonderful week:)

Busy, Busy

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. This week I started school again, and oh, how I miss being on break!:( But i was able to get right back in the swing of things and thankfully, keep up all my good habits that i established while i was on break. This past monday, I lost 1.6. So now my total is 8.4 in three weeks. i can't complain:) We're basically all moved into our new house now, and I'm loving it. Today I'm going to try to have a really productive day and get lots done, mainly getting my room all together. I need to buy some paint to re-do my frames/wall-hangings and stuff so hopefully I get a lot done.:) hope you all have a good weekend!!!

Here are some pictures my friend Alora took of me last week:)

Wow...Didn't See That Coming!

Well, tonight was the weigh-in! I wasn't nervous because I knew I had lost weight. I could physically feel it. I thought I'd have a good couple pounds under my belt. Well after dealing with the cranky old lady receptionist who yelled at me for not having my goal weight yet, and then making me go buy something at Starbucks because she didn't have change for a 20 (and this caused me to be late for the meeting), I stepped on the scale. And the cranky old lady's face suddenly got really surprised. And she said...."Wow...you lost 5.2. Good job!" HAHA! I was so excited! Ahhh.:) I've never lost that much in one week!

And then later in the meeting they were talking about exercise, and the leader said, "You know it IS possible to lose weight without exercising..." Then I was gonna raise my hand and say, "YEAH! i just lost 5 lbs and I sat on my butt all week!" but I didn't say that.:) And good thing, because she continued, "BUT, why is it important to exercise?....blah blah blah.." Ha.

So yeah game-plan for this week? Well basically I know that if I don't be as psycho as I was last week (if not psycho-er), then I will gain weight, even if I follow the exact weight watchers plan perfectly (which would include eating ALL of my points, which i have NOT been doing).

So this week, it's going to be exercise, on top of eating like a Nazi. Me and my cuzzy Hannah already have it planned to go running every day. And quite frankly, there is nothing I hate more in the world than exercise. Ok well maybe a few things, like liberals, stupid teachers, and annoying people...but that's for another post. Point is, I hate hate hate it. I dread it. I avoid it. I feel like I'm going to die when I do it. But ya know, I can't lie, when i do do it, AFTERWARDS, I guess I do feel pretty good:) but then hate it again the next morning when I can't walk from soreness. So this is going to be my challenge this week. Hope you all have a good week! Peace out!

Progress

I really didn't want to do another post about my new eating habits and such, but it's been my main focus lately and it really has been a big part of my life, just in the past couple weeks!

The past few days, I have been psycho about what I've been eating. I don't know if it's even healthy, obsessing over all this healthy food. I am learning to embrace hunger, but in an extreme way. Now, no-one freak out, I am not starving myself or depriving myself by any means, but I've just been really focusing on getting used to less food and the only way to do that is to quit eating when I KNOW i've had enough. And I've realized that about a half hour later, that "not done eating" feeling that my brain tricks my stomach into thinking totally goes away and I feel perfectly fine.

My mom and I also went to Sprouts a couple days ago and went CRAZY. I LOVE eating healthy and one day, I want to be one of those psycho people who buy nothing but organic:) haha but at Sprouts, we got all sorts of fruits, veggies, psyllium husk, flax seed, almonds, La Tortilla Factory tortillas (holy cow, miracle food), and cracked wheat bread (another amazing low-calorie food). I was a happy girl:)

The only down side of this super-conscious eating is that when I'm in situations like I was tonight, it makes it super hard to let myself endulge even a little bit.

But tonight's Sunday family dinner was a milestone.

It was probably the first time in a reeeeally long time that I didn't get seconds. And the first time in a reeeeally long time I didn't get dessert. Like seriously, before- I LIVED FOR DESSERT! And I know on weight watchers, you shouldn't deprive yourself and there's no foods that you can't eat, but I refused to let this whole week go by so perfectly food-wise, and then ruin it by having dessert. I did have to leave the dinner a little early to avoid the extreme temptation (haha) BUT on the way home I felt SO good. 1-because I really watched my portions and I didn't have that super-stuffed feeling I usually get after Sunday dinner. and 2-because I didn't eat dessert and on the way home, once I left, the thought of the desserts didn't even appeal to me anymore. This is seriously like a miracle to me! And I'm sure that my weigh-in tomorrow wouldn't have been totally affected if I had dessert, but by not eating it, I proved to myself that if I was able to overcome my biggest temptation (being dessert), I can really do anything. And it boosted my confidence in what I'm doing SO much.

This week is my last week of break so it still should be pretty easy to continue to do very well, especially with all my new food from Sprouts:) But the only thing I'm really worried about is starting school again next week. I know how I get when I'm in school. Eating is the WORST. I don't eat breakfast, I have a random snack for lunch, then when I get home around 2:30 (usually really hungry), I go psycho and eat about 3 meals worth of food, then eat dinner at around 8. Ahhh it sounds even more awful now that I type it. BUT IT IS GOING TO CHANGE. And I've got to come up with a master-sneaky-plan to stop it. And that's what I will be doing all this week as I munch on my carrots and chug down my psyllium husk!:) muhahah:) until then, peace out!