Happiness and a Recommendation...

Tonight I posted on my Facebook that I'm "so happy I almost feel guilty--ALMOST."  And I am.  I am happy with my progress--I don't have an official total but will on Thursday.  I am happy at school.  I am happy in my relationship.  I've never been this happy before in my entire life.  It's an amazing feeling--and yet because it's so unfamiliar, it's also oddly disquieting.  It's weird not having anything to cry or complain about.  It's new and wonderful and scary!

And my dinner tonight was so delicious that I thought I'd post about that, too.  I also thought you might want some other options.  First of all, tonight's dinner was a "Healthy Choice" steaming entree--Rosemary Chicken & Sweet Potatoes, "chicken tenderloins with sweet potatoes, yellow carrots & pearl onions in rosemary garlic sauce."  It was a larger portion than I could eat, so I didn't finish all the sweet potatoes or the carrots, but I did eat all the chicken.  12 grams of protein is a pretty good amount as well, and this was all for 180 calories!  (For my Weight Watchers friends, it's 3 points!) 

Healthy Choice entrees are actually pretty good.  There's a Whiskey Steak & Potatoes that's delicious, too.  They aren't terribly expensive, but the prices are definitely better at Walmart than anywhere else.  I've bought a lot of Lean Cuisine over the years, but I haven't really found any that thrilled me.  I'm a very picky eater, so if I endorse anything, please know that it's truly delicious!  

Atkins protein bars are a very good source for protein.  The chocolate peanut butter are truly delicious--thick, almost...well, sorta...like a peanut butter cup.  Okay, so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but considering it's 19 grams of protein for a complete bar, I wouldn't expect it to be too yummy!  And they're pretty large--I can't even eat a half of one at a time!  Buddy likes them, too, so I share them with him as well!

Cooking for one is never much fun, but I'm going to start using my crock pot and cooking pork and chicken barbecues and things like that so I can have protein easily available. But because I keep irregular hours, cooking isn't always practical for me.  If you have a favorite frozen entree, please share it in the comments.

Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone!!

A GIANT Weekend!

I had a wonderful weekend.  My brother Kriss' team, the NY Giants won the Super Bowl, Buddy and I had a great time at two good movies, Big Miracle and Joyful Noise, and I met Buddy's youngest daughter, "Jenny".  Jenny is fourteen, which is the age I teach, and she's adorable.  We seemed to get along really well, which was a relief! :-)  Being the "friend" of a dad is sometimes tough because you don't know what to expect!  But Jenny was funny and personable, and she hugged me goodbye, which I took as a great sign!

Such a good weekend...and I feel confident that there are more good weekends ahead.  And now it's Monday!  I hope you're ready for the week; if not, take it easy today...and have a manageable Monday!

No Risk, No Reward!

When was the last time you took a chance?  Risks are so scary, I understand that...(maybe better than you think), but it's so important to take that risk if it means the difference between being happy and unhappy!

Friday night, Buddy and I had a fight.  Over what?  It doesn't matter.  But it felt like we were close to being "over" when a friend of mine gave me the best advice I've ever received.  He told me that my heart loves too hard (I have to agree) and then asked me if I ever fought for a man.  I had to admit that I hadn't...nor did I really know how.  But his words resonated with me, and before long, I was showering, getting dressed and on my way to Buddy's house.  Please know I was terrified...what if he didn't want me after I showed up at his door?  What if his daughters were there?  What if he wasn't home?  What if?  What if what?  What if he was glad to see me?  What if he was willing to talk things out?  I was so scared, but I did it.  I went to see him and we talked things out--REALLY talked things out--and we're fine.  Better than fine.  I'm happier than I've ever been in my entire life!  

We saw Big Miracle--it was wonderful...it was a real "feel good" movie although sad in places.  (I cried like a baby!)  After the movie, we went to Cheddar's for dinner.  I ordered a hamburger off the kids' menu with steamed vegetables (broccoli and carrots).  Buddy ordered a hamburger, too and got fries with his.  He ate my broccoli (I just don't like it--I even tried it again!) but the carrots were amazing! I also took five of his fries, but only ate two.  I did eat half my hamburger, and it seemed to settle well.

Buddy and I might never have spoken again had it not been for my taking the risk and going to see him.  The old Rhonda wouldn't have gone after him, but the new Rhonda did what she had to do to get her guy.  It was worth the risk.  So...my question again?  When is the last time you took a risk?  Remember that there is no chance for reward without a little risk at least.  Have a SUPER Sunday--and let's hope the Giants win!

I Just Don't Learn...

I just don't learn.  Not when it comes to food.  Not when it comes to relationships.  Not when it comes to much of anything.

Ironic, since I'm a freaking teacher!  Sigh.  I love pizza.  Um, scratch that.  I loved pizza, past tense.  I can't eat it anymore.  I stopped at Pizza Hut after school today and bought a "personal pan pizza".  Yes, they are having a "any size for $10" sale, but I can't eat that much.  I ate one teeny slice and immediately felt sick.  I can't eat pizza.  Remind me of that from time to time, would you?

Not sure what the weekend holds, except that I definitely want to go see "Big Miracle".  It looks amazing to me, and I cried the first time I saw the trailer.  Yeah, that's me.  Crybaby extraordinaire.  Anyway, I'm going to go see it--probably alone, which is okay...I'm pretty good company.

Have a super Saturday, everyone...and whatever you do, do it with a smile. 

Same Side Sitters and Other Tongue Twisters...

Buddy and I are "same side sitters".  For the unfamiliar, "SSS"s are those couples who sit on the same side of the table or booth even when it's not because there is someone else sitting across from them.  You've seen them in restaurants--they are the sickeningly sweet couples who either make you smile or roll your eyes in disgust.  I had never been an SSS until I met Buddy.  The first time he suggested that I sit next to him, we were in Cracker Barrel and ostensibly, the idea was to sit where I could see the fireplace.  I sat next to him, which threw our server off a bit since I had been sitting across from him when she took our orders, and I felt a bit odd for a little while.  When I relaxed, I realized how nice it was to be sitting next to him rather than reaching hands across the table.

Since that first time, he and I have sat on the same side in every restaurant in which we've eaten.  Not only am I used to it now, but I really like it.  And yes, I see the looks--the wistful smiles on women who remember sitting like that when their relationships were young, and the "oh, brother" looks from those who either never sat that way or cannot remember doing so and the men whose looks seem to scream, "What are you, nuts?  Now my wife/girlfriend/mistress is going to expect ME to sit like that with HER!"  I used to be one of those glaring women--I thought it was so "yucky" (for lack of another word) that a couple would demonstrate their feelings in such a way.  Used to be.  87 pounds and a (seemingly) lifetime ago.

I am genuinely amazed at how great I feel about myself and how open and adventurous I've become.  I really am willing to try anything these days...I've even thought about going skydiving and bungee jumping!  The sky really IS my limit these days!  Yesterday morning, I put on my new-from-the-dryer black jeans to wear to school.  Now as I said before, I honestly do NOT remember the last time I had zip-up jeans--or slacks of any kind for that matter.  But yesterday, as I lay on the bed so that I could zip them up, I was transported back to my teens when lying flat was the only way to get freshly dried jeans zipped up.  No more "mom" jeans for this woman.  No more stretchy waistbands.  I'm back in the "lie down to zip up" club!  And boy, does THAT feel good!

It's Friday, folks.  Have a FABULOUS, FIERCE, FANTASTIC day!

Who is That Woman?

Public displays of affection!  I would never have allowed that, and yet on Tuesday night Buddy and I were making out in the parking lot of the Fresh Market when a man who was watching the scene yelled out, "Oh, don't stop now!".  I was mortified.  I had never been part of something like that!  We giggled and the man went on to yell, "It's okay--I've got my own redhead here!"

It was so funny--and while I was slightly embarrassed, I loved it.  I never had anything to do with PDAs when I was with James.  He tried to grab my butt in public once or twice, and I quickly quashed that!  Buddy's all over me, and I just go with it.  Certainly that has to mean something!

I am still battling this sinus thing, so I'm going to cut this very short, but I wonder how many of you are saying no to PDAs and other fun things because you're 1) worried what people will say, 2) with the wrong person or 3) not confident enough about who you are to enjoy a PDA. (or whatever...)  I spoke to Buddy about this, and he asked me why I didn't let James. I had to think about it for a while.  I think in part it was because I was uncomfortable within my own skin and in part because I didn't want him to touch me like that.  With Buddy, it's so easy, so natural, so...sigh.

Thursday!  Make it thoughtful! Love you!

Do As I Say, NOT As I Do!

After yesterday's post, I cried.  I didn't sleep well.  I went to school and cried some more.  (It didn't help that my throat is so sore that I felt like I swallowed razor blades!)  Well, again, what a difference a day makes!

After a few texts from me, Buddy sent me a text yesterday morning that explained some of Monday night with a cryptic, "Did not feel up to facing my feelings."  I had things I wanted to say, so I wrote him a long full-page letter.  He responded with a REALLY nice letter and we ended up making plans for dinner so that we could talk about it.  And the feelings he didn't want to face?  He loves me.  (Although we are avoiding the L-word [or L-bomb as one of his daughters says]).

Okay--here comes the part about do as I say and not as I do.  I gave him an ultimatum--he could either have ME or have the other women, but not both.  Fortunately for my heart, it went MY way.  I hate ultimatums, and the truth is, you have to be willing to lose.  I was.  I was ready to walk out of that restaurant (and his life) if he decided that was his only option.  I am very grateful that things worked out the way I wanted them to, but it could have gone the other way!  Therefore, I do not recommend--at all--giving an ultimatum unless you are completely--and I do mean completely--ready to lose everything.

My proposition?  I told him that if he wanted ME that he had to forget all other women and spend time with just me for six weeks.  After the Elton John concert, if he wants to be with other women, I'll let him do so with my blessings.  But for the next six weeks, he's all mine.  We'll see where things are in March, but I do like this man SO much! It is scary, but this man is someone with whom I share so much.  We finish each other's sentences.  We laugh every time we're together.  I can understand why it would scare him.  It's like a drug that magnifies and intensifies everything else in life!

I am proud of myself and that I stuck to my guns in this situation.  And I'm so very happy that this went MY way, but I know it could've gone in the other direction--and I was ready (painful as it would have been) to deal with it.  

It seems that this blog has been more about my dating drama than my weight loss, and for that I apologize.  Of course, just having dating drama is a definite side effect of the weight loss.  When I was my former size, it was amazing just to have a date!

I'm fighting a sinus infection or something, so I'm going to call it a night.  Please have a WONDERFUL Wednesday--I feel like I will!!