So, here I am under 100 kilos again. Thank goodness! It was horrifying to know that I had gone so far over that and very satisfying to know that I am now under it again. I have been 99 kilos before. It was my start weight for a previous attempt at WW about 11 or 12 years ago. I managed to get down to about 80 kilos before stopping so I know it is possible to lose more weight and get there again. Although this time there will be no stopping until I get into my healthy weight range. The higher end of that is 76 kilos.

I've been working on my application for the job today. Boy, it is a daunting task and I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to work out where to put things and how best to phrase them. I know it will all come together in the end but good golly it is a painful process! I'm lucky have people who are supporting me.
Actually, I'd better get back to it. I'm going to have Ella take some photos of me next week once I hit my official 10 kilo mark and I'll post them up for all to see. I've actually lost 12.5 kilos but only 9.2 since officially starting WW. I'm loving all the compliments I'm receiving at the moment as people are noticing the loss.

Domestic life

Gosh I am tired tonight. I don't really have anything to say but just felt Iwanted to check in.

Today I wore a pair of work pants and a top that I haven't been able to fit into for god knows how long. I was very excited when I put them on becuase I felt I looked good. I'm starting to get my shape back, I could see the curves rather than just the one big lump! Another teacher commented as I walked past, asking me if I'd lost weight. She was very pleased for me and said that I just looked so well. I do. I feel well. My skin is clear and my eyes, which often used to be bloodshot, are clear and shiny. People have been asking me a lot why I'm so happy lately. Perhaps they think I'm getting a bit ( oh how I wish that were true!) and it has surprised me every time. I'm not actually particularly happy at work, but I'm happy with my decision to not put up with the crap anymore. I am going to apply for that Head teacher position -  thanks for all your encouragement btw) and I guess putting myself first is making me happier too. I make sure I do my exercise 6 out of 7 days, regardless. If it means something doesn't get done then so be it. I make time to track, read the WW boards, write in this blog and get enough sleep.

It dawned on me last week when I was talking to soem of my students that my daughters are old enough now to help out around the house a bit more. Ella, my 9 year old, was always pretty good if I asked her to do something, but I decided it is time to make some chores part of the routine. So, since Saturday, I have insisted they help me with the washing up. I wash, Ella wipes and Alexandra puts the dishes away.It is so cute cause she is only 5 and has to stand on her stool to reach the shelves. Morning and night it has become a part of our day and surprisingly it is a nice bit of family time. We chat, sing songs etc while we do it. It is all over and done so much more quickly I am then able to do other stuff. Also in the mornings they have to make their beds. They don't look as nice as when I do it, but I'll let that one go. It is important that they learn they are part of a family and we are all responsible for keeping the house in a reasonable state and that we all chip in. Ella is now able to make a cup of tea and has been making me one each evening after everything is done. This is probably a novelty that will wear off soon, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts!

Off to bed now. Must get some work done on that application tomorrow.

x Belinda

A day well spent

I finished my reports this morning and we packed a bag with a picnic lunch and set off on our bushwalk. We drove up the hill to Wentworth Falls and set off to do the Charles Darwin Walk.

Alas,but this did not deter us three brave adventurers. We took the fact that this sign was trampled to the ground to mean that it must be ok, and we set out with the agreement that if it was dangerous we would turn back.

The track was ok, despite the signs and it looked like some repair work had been undertaken. There was only one part where there was a little difficulty in crossing the creek, but a path had been worn down around it so we followed that.

It was a beautiful day and it was wonderful to be walking in the bush with my daughters. The track is apparently 3.1 kilometers one way, but it did seem a little longer than that. You come out at the end to a beautiful lookout and then we went up some stairs to Wentworth Falls picnic area for our lunch.

We had our sandwiches and somne fruit, and then walked a little further for an ice-cream. After a little rest we headed back up the road to the highway and the park where we started our journey. This was the hardest bit of the journey as it was uphill and the grils were already tired. Alex was quite whingy and it was pat one stage we even had to stop so her little legs could have a rest.

Alex found her groove again when we finally got back to the park.

All in all, a day well spent!

Glorious morning in the mountains

It is a beautiful, crisp morning in the mountains this public holiday Monday.

I have about 10 or so reports left to write and I'm going to try and knock them over early so I can enjoy the rest of the day. I might even drag the girls out for a bushwalk later.

I bought a nice loaf of sourdough from Whisk and Pin yesterday and intend to make the WW pumpkin and capsicum soup for lunch. I'll be able to take the leftovers to work this week. Yummy.

Have a good day, all!

Belinda

Reports

I'm writing reports.

Enough said. You know how it is.

Belinda

Firstly, thanks to all those who commented on my last post. I must say the idea is growing on me. Guess I will have to start pulling my application together.

Back to my WW journey. WI this morning showed a loss of only 100grams, but truthfully I was relieved with that. I was expecting a gain as I'd lost focus this week. The weird thing was I was feeling great in my clothes and had received a few compliments at work, but I just couldn't get my act together to follow the program as I normally do. I struggled being back at work, found it hard to drink my water, was drinking far too much coffee because I felt tired and didn't always choose the right foods to get me through the day. When that happens I get ravenous in the afternoon and eat just about everything in sight. I was tracking in a very 'relaxed' way and my portions were creeping back up. My period still hasn't started, and I've felt a bit blah all week because of it. I've had the usual headaches that accompany my period- or perhaps they were dehydration headaches?

But it's not all bad. I still had some control. I didn't partake of Monday's morning tea and at Friday morning tea I only had a small piece of lamington cake. I scraped the cream off and threw it in the bin. There was not fruit or anything, only biscuits and cakes so I thought I made a good choice. I didn't revert to going through the drive thru ( not that I even like that food, but did eat it prior to WW when I was out and about and hungry), I didn't get BBQ chicken and chips, I didn't get chocolates and I forced myself to exercise everyday. So, I may have been a bit over indulgent, but that was with almond bread ( at two pieces for 0.5 points) rather than a block of Cabury's and red wine.

Today, I was in a better frame of mind and have made good choices all day and saved 4 points. I want to take the girls out for afternoon tea this weekend and am looking forward to sharing a piece of cake with them. I have tracked and  drunk my water. I didn't do any exercise, but was cleaning all day and that even involved moving furniture around. Next week, I will loose at least 500 grams and be under 100. You watch.

I just don't know what to do...

Here is the situation.

My ex-partner's current partner ( he left me to be with her 5 years ago) has received a promotion and so her old postition as Head teacher English is available. It has gone out to Expressions of Interest and she is encouraging me to go for it.

At first I was thinking that I didn't want to fill her position, that if I could get a head teacher's position I could do it on my own. It is only a RELIEVING position and is for the rest of this school year, starting mid-May.

People have been telling me for years that I should become a HT. And I was for two years when my school had a position for a HT Mentor position. I wasn't demoted, it was only ever going to be a 2year thing and then I resumed normal duties. Lately I've been wondering if I should start preparing myself for a faculty head job. At times I think I could do it, I get so frustrated by the improvements I could see that could be made but that I can't do because I'm not the HT. There are a lot of HT out there with less experience with me and who I believe I am more capable than.

The problem is at my school nobody ever gets a chance at being Relieving HT when the current HT relieves for the Deputy. It never goes to EOI, always directly to this one woman with any of us knowing before it is a done deal.This is what is actually happening at the moment.Nobody else was asked, given a chance or even told that it was about to happen. So, it is highly unlikely that if I stay where I am that I will get the experience I need to be a HT.

Applying for this relieving position in another school would get me the experience I need. There is a possibility that the HT English at my school will get a Deputy's position, and failing that doesn't have that long left before retirement anyway. If I had some experience I might stand a chance of getting that position when it becomes available. Or I could apply for substantive HT positions in other schools.

I meet the criteria for the job, it would only mean an extra 15 minutes of travel each day, and I would be paid a HT salary. The faculty are apparently friendly and functional. A friend and colleague at my school thinks that I would have a good chance at getting it. The programs etc are already in place so i wouldn't be undertaking any grand changes etc.

On the downside it would mean leaving position as Year Advisor for the year, and leaving my classes. I have an Advanced class in year 11 and a top year 10 class who I would feel like I was deserting. I don't know how it would impact on my WW journey, I hope not at all.

But I'm not very happy where I am either. It is not the happiest of places, and is actually the hardest school I've worked in. Not because of the students, because of the staff etc.

I really am just not sure if I should do it or not and would appreciate any advice. I'm thinking I could at least put the application in...

Belinda