So long Spring Break

     Last week was Spring Break and it was great!  I got to sleep "late" everyday and had time to eat a delicious breakfast. I didn't have to fuss with anyone about getting up and getting dressed. I didn't have to drive anyone anywhere unless I wanted to. I was well rested, relaxed, and in a happy place.
    Today was my first day back at work. Although the students were gone by 11, the rest of the day was a teacher workday for me and I ended up working til 4. What on earth was I doing you ask?  Well, I was tired of the ugliness of my classroom so I made a few changes. I moved books, moved a bookshelf, slid over the file cabinets, moved a table, turned my desk, relocated a cart, and moved a few student desks.  I decluttered a bulletin board and found a better spot for the telephone.  Not to mention, I had to disinfect, throw away stuff, and sweep. When I finished I was very pleased with the results, but I was TIRED. I feel as though all the energy I had built up was depleted in just one school day. My legs and feet hurt and my eyes are red.
     There's obviously a deficiency in my body. Sounds like I need a multivitamin or something. Last week I felt so good I forgot to see my doctor. I didn't miss an appointment or anything, but I was supposed to go back to have my blood pressure checked.
     I know where I was mentally and physically last week and I don't want to have to wait until summer break to feel like that again.

It's that time of year again--"Six Phases of Teaching"

6 Phases of Teaching

Phase 1  You are listening to jazz -- Your first day at work is great. Your fellow teachers are wonderful, your classroom is cute, you love your students, and your principal is the best! Phase 2 You are listening to pop music -- After a while you are so busy that you are not sure if you're coming or going anymore. Phase 3 You are listening to heavy metal -- This is what you feel like after ONE month. Phase 4 You are listening to hip hop -- You become bloated due to stress, you're gaining weight due to lack of exercise because you are so tired and have so much school work to do and, when you do get home, you feel sluggish and suffer from constipation. Your fellow teachers are too cheerful for your liking and the walls of your classroom are closing in. You have started thinking 'WHATEVER' about your principal. Phase 5 You are listening to GANGSTA RAP -- After more time passes, your eyes start to twitch and you forget what a 'good hair day' feels like as you just fall out of bed and load up on caffeine. Phase 6  You are listening to the voices in your head -- You have locked your classroom door to keep people out.  You wonder WHY you are even here in the first place and WHY you became a teacher!  PASS THIS ON TO FELLOW TEACHERS WHO NEED A GOOD LAUGH.

I think I need to lose

So, I did an online search the other day about ways to improve my blood pressure.  One of the things that struck me stated that losing just 10 pounds would lower my pressure.  Currently, I am in the 150 range and wear a size 10.  I don't feel the need to lose weight because as a mother of 3 kids I don't want to be too skinny and look too young.  I already have a youthful face.  When I worked on the high school level and people would say I looked like one of the students, it annoyed me, but it didn't surprise me because I was only in my twenties.  Now, I'm 33 and work in a middle school and people still say I look like one of the students.  Just imagine if I lost weight.

I can say though, that when I was having success with my blood pressure, I was about 15-20 pounds lighter.  I couldn't fit any of my clothes because everything was falling off.  I really don't want that; I just want to be healthy.  Perhaps if I could target a specific part of my body--my waistline!  Because I'd been skinny all my life, I never imagined that my abdominal area would be as flabby as it is now.  Dr. Oz said on one of his shows that stress and tummy fat are related.  Unfortunately, in my mind I feel that I am stuck with this feature that makes all of my clothes difficult to wear.  When I was in school, it was nothing for me to do a jumping jack, push up, sit up, etc.  You name it, I could do it.  On the track team, I ran the mile, 2-mile, and mile relay.  Now, everything except walking seems so hard.

Honestly, I am unhappy with my body.  Before I was always felt too skinny.  I'm not fat by any means, but I'm totally out of shape in every way.  I was watching "My 600 lb Life" last night and as I watched I realized how lazy I'm being.  One guy weighed over 700 lbs.  He had to lose 50 lbs just to be eligible for weight loss surgery.  I think he lost 53 lbs.  I tell myself that I don't have time with my full-time job, 3 children, husband, and household duties.  Walking a few days a week is apparently not enough.  I think I need something more rigorous--more aggressive.

Last year, I occasionally went to Zumba.  I loved it, but I didn't go consistently and I felt like I was being a burden every time I needed someone to watch my kids while I was out.  I wish I didn't feel so guilty when I'm away from my children.  It's wet outside today.  I could go out and walk, but I probably need to run to trim this belly.  I need to make a decision and stick with it.