RedPandaOne

I'm wavering. I want to go to IKEA and get that needed dresser...

So much for getting to bed early. I just got out of the shower and now to wait for my hair to dry before I can sleep. I refuse to use the hair dryer in this heat.

A lot of decisions were made today about money. I was going to go to IKEA tomorrow because the dresser I need for storage is on sale, but I'm passing. I need that money for comic con. At comic con I am passing getting Stephen Amell's autograph and just getting the photo since that's already bought. I'm also bringing down my daily spending from $100 to $50.

No exercise today. I spent that time trying to rearrange my storage unit for more space to no avail. I need to ask my landlord for the other corner unit that's bigger that only one person is using and has pretty much nothing in. Ours is not big enough for 2 people. Plus, he took away our bigger unit without asking last year so I think we deserve it. He have it to one of the other single tennents who bitched they didnt have enough space, and hes not even using half of it.

The other part of my time was spent fixing the tread on my treadmill. That took about half an hour and a YouTube search to figure out what to do.

Good news is that I didnt have any soda!

Food I went over, but it was worth it. And I couldn't make something healthier because everything I had required the microwave and that got wet today because I didnt know we were getting torrential downpours today and the window it sits in front of was open. So after drying it off and calling my dad to make sure I wouldn't blow up the house, he advised not to use it for a day or two to let any water that got inside dry out. Crap, and I just realized I have nothing to eat tomorrow for lunch.

Oh no! Can you take some benadryl or something tonight to help with the allergic reaction? The skin in your face must be really sensitive. But yay for the rest of the burn not being as bad!

I wish your son the best! I wish I had a good chemistry teacher, so that's awesome he got one to inspire him that much. Hopefully he turns out the same.

Another late night. I'm going to try and go to bed early tonight so I can get up tomorrow and walk (if I get thr treadmill fixed tonight).

 

But here is yesterday:

 

Soda - sadly yes

 

Exercise - sadly no

 

Money - no CC use

 

Track/Measure food - yes

 

I'm getting frustrated because I'm not seeing the scale go down. I feel like I'm a camel and just retaining all the water. I go like a day after getting rid of the water and then it's right back.

 

I am taking other measurements but only do that once a month. It's not time for the next set. But I feel like a month on this 1300 calorie intake should show some sort of movement in the scale!

 

Selina typically has that face, so I believe you.

I am so tired. I got home at like 10:30 last night. And found my roommate running the a/c in the living room...with the other window wide open! I cant wait until I get my spending under control, save money, and the current housing bubble bursts so I can get my own place.

Anyway, here is yesterday's update:

Soda - yes since I was at trivia

Exercise - attempted but failed due to equipment issues

Money - I used my travel CC. I bought the tickets to Universal for my friend and I, which she has already paid me for. So when I pay the bill it's not all my money being used.

Track/Measure food - I forgot to log the coke, so it's a little higher than listed. And today's tracking is brought to you by Sparkpeople since I had everything saved in there and didnt feel like converting it over to Noom

Slow Cooker Sweet Fire Chicken

Okay, this one doesn't even list serving amount. So let's assume a serving of 4

 

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

Ingredients You Need

• 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1/2 Cup Honey
• 1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
• 1/4 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar
• 1 small chopped red onion
• 1 glove Garlic, minced
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger
• Pepper
• 1/4 Cup Cold Water
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• Sesame Seeds

Instructions

Step 1 – Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker

Step 2 – Mix together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, onion , ginger and pepper and pour over the chicken breasts

Step 3 – Cook on low for 6 hours

Step 4 – After the  6 hours remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl, shred with forks

Step 5 – In a separate bowl mix the cold water and cornstarch until it is smooth and not lumpy

Step 6 – Pour the Terikyaki sauce from the slow cooker into a sauce pan and add the cornstarch mixture

Step 7 – Bring to a boil and cook for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce thickens.

Step 8- Pour the sauce over the chicken and toss.

Okay, I once again need help with figuring out serving sizes! I have found 3 crockpot recipes I want to make so I don't need to use my oven/stovetop. But it just tells me how many it serves and not the size. I want to make sure they are actually healthy recipes before I make them. 

 

Here is the first one: 

 

Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef

I'm up at 5:30 this morning (it's now 6) yo do 45 minutes on the treadmill. That did not happen. Step on, get about 2 minutes in and it starts making a loud noise. The tread is out of alignment. Tried to adjust but couldn't, its going to take some time to do. I cant do it tonight or tomorrow due to after work plans getting me home after 10pm. My plan will pan out eventually.

Weekend update!

Saturday
Soda - nope and I was at a BBQ too! Drank 2-3 bottles of water and two mini cups of this alcoholic watermelon thing

Track/Measure food - nope, but I have my weekend pass not to

Exercise - no. Did play a little cornhole in 90 degree weather and sweated that way

Money - so I did need to put my hair appointment on my credit card. I way overspent on something these last two weeks and the money I had put in my checking for the appointment was not there.

Sunday
Soda - just one sip of Pepsi

Track/Measure food - again no because of the weekend

Exercise - yes! Did half an hour of dancing to The Fitness Marshall

Money - no CC use today. But did my budgeting for the next 2 1/2 weeks and looks like I need to pull from savings again *sigh*

Okay, Friday update!

Soda - no

Exercise - while planned it didnt happen. Instead I drove down to my parents to spend the night. I have a hair appointment today (actually sitting in the chair right now letting the dye do its thing). I had some things to do/grab at my parents before my appointment so it just made sense to go down last night instead of fighting Cape traffic this morning and rushing.

Track/measure food - yes

Money - no CC use

I realized I never updated about yesterday.

Soda - nope
Exercise - sadly no. I was just so tired, physically and mentally.
Track/measure food - yes
Money - no CC use

 
Thank you for mentioning that. I was going to ask [emoji4] I keep seeing ads for Noom, but haven't signed up yet. Does it have set guidance, or does it let you say if you're interested in particular meal styles (like low carb, etc)?

You're welcome!

It doesn't give you meal plans, but it does have a database of recipes you can use. I *think* when I signed up it asked if there was a dietary preference but I honestly don't remember. But with the way it tracks food, I dont think your preference matters as long as you keep most foods in the green and yellow categories.

I've been fighting with my weight for awhile, and this fight with my water weight started before Noom. The people in my group (they give you a group of users who have similar goals and some coaches to help with accountability) have already lost 4+ pounds in the first 3 1/2 weeks. They do let you try it "free" for the first two weeks. They ask for you to pay for the trial, but they also say you don't need to, pay what you want. I did $1, but I think it will accept $0 in the payment amount box.

I hope your headaches ease soon!

I'm not sure why the english muffin is yellow and not red since most bread items have been red. Bananas appear to be a green food. 

 

I'm somewhere between 5'3" and 5'4". I was shocked when they put me at 1200! I'm not sure if it's because I said I wanted to be on the medium pace for weight loss, or if they just start everyone there. If they do, then wow, for people who really overeat and are going from 2000+ calories down to 1200 they must be starving! That was one thing I liked about WW, they gradually drop you. I've been aiming for 1300-1400. Also, the more I exercise, the more they raise the calorie limit. Whatever day I worked out this week, I burned about 202 calories, so they raised my daily intake by about 100 calories. I figure if this doesn't work, it's not a complete waste of money since I can get reimbursed from my health insurance. It'll give me something to show to the doctor and be like "I've tried this, this, this, this, and this. None worked. Something is wrong! Halp!" When I was talking with Brandon (guy who helped with my treadmill, can't remember if I said his name), I was telling him my weight history and he was just as shocked about the start of my weight gain and thinks something is wrong too. I just need to find a good doctor at this point. 

 

Funny thing is, we didn't even plan the trip for the festival, it was just the week that worked for everyone and I was like "hey!". It's been on my list of things I would love to try, so I'm glad we are getting to go. I'll make sure to take pics and post them - I'll dig up my daily thread from it's grave! It's been a few years since I've been and I loved HP at the time. I dug out my interactive wand so I'll be one of the grown adults running around waving it! When I'm not standing in line for 3+ hours for the Hagrid coaster, lol. I read about that chocolate place! If it's Sylvaa approved, then I will for sure check it out!

 

BTW, my legs are still sore. But I think I did the stairs at work 7 times yesterday and then carrying the treadmill up two flights (backwards), it's understandable. 

The day did not end as planned.

I was going to workout.

I instead received my new treadmill and asked my friend to come over to help me get it up to my bedroom. While she was driving over my male housemate come over and helped. The three of us then spent the rest of the night playing cards against humanity and ticket to ride. I also had 2, maybe 3 downeast ciders. I think it was 3, but honestly can't remember, I was already buzzed at 1 and drunk at 2. I'm a light weight.

So I had a lot of fun tonight, but those empty calories did not help!

Wednesday goal recap:
Soda - no
Measure/track food - yes, but a drink may be missing
Exercise - no, but I was sweating by the time we got the treadmill up to my room
Money - no CC usage

Haha, I was wondering who was going to comment on that first. Red doesn't mean "dont eat" just means dont eat too much. Which cheese is a main staple in my diet so it sucks. I think its red because it's high calorie and not that filling? Green foods tend to be very water rich.

Its the Noom app/program. Thought I'd give it a try. So far no weight loss. Been losing and gaining the same 2 pounds. Story of my life. And it's all water weight.

Yea, I was looking at some of the souvenirs I want to buy (I need new Harry Potter robes, I bought the wrong house. I'm not gryffindor, I'm ravenclaw!). They are not cheap. They are about what parking would cost. And we are going to be there for the wine and food festival so I need some extra money for the lovely snacks I want to try! I can guarantee my mom will sneak me some money before I go, but I'm 33! I shouldn't be relying on my parents for that. But I wont turn it down either, momma didnt raise no fool!

So, as someone who used to work in a call center doing sales for a 10 hour shift, either 2nd or 3rd shift, 4 days a week that rotated, I totally get how excited you are about having a constant schedule! When I moved in that company and had a more regular schedule it made me so happy. And then I got my current office job and the joy I felt knowing I could plan something 6 months in advance was great! It really can be the small things that can make us happy. 

 

And your dog is adorable!

The greek cucumber subs don't meal prep well, even though they say they do. I'm also not sure I want to eat the 3rd one tomorrow. If I do, I need to scrap off all the hummus, I don't like it. 

 

And as much as I don't want to, I've decided not to get a hotel room for Boston Comic Con. I'm going to take Uber/Lyft in everyday. I'm going to Disney/Universal in October so that $500 will be better spent there. You have no idea how much this pains me! 

 

Speaking of "pain" my legs are still sore from Monday! I'm going to try and do another round today. I've already done the stairs at work 4 times, and I've got at least one round I need to do. Why does the postage meter machine need to be one the first floor only?! 

I'm exhausted but let me post before I forget.

Soda - yes (trivia night) but only had one even though I really wanted a second

Exercise - no. But I did walk up and down the flight of stairs at work about 4-5 times today, I usually only do it once. My legs were so sore from dancing yesterday I wasnt sure I could do the stairs a couple times

Measure/log food - yes, pictures below. My lunch today was a new recipe, greek cucumber subs. Messy but good

Money - no CC use today

End of the day, time for a update.

Soda - nope
Exercise - yes! Did about 20 minutes from the YouTube channel The Fitness Marshall. Omg, was I sweating.
Measure/log food - yes, pics below
Money - no CC use today

I need to read everything. Putting in my follow dot so I can at least keep up going forward. 

2 hours ago, Sylvaa said:

 

How close are you with the people who may or may not be impacted? Are you able to either text or talk to them about it? Maybe do the workout at a time where they are all home and awake and see if they hear anything before doing it in the morning? That way, you'll know whether or not this is an issue before trying it out at 5:30. Back when I was renting, I lived in a house with a guy who lived in the basement who played drums. We coordinated that pretty easily, even though my bf at the time worked a late shift. 

 

 

Not too close. The one that shares living room wall/floor I see on occasion. I may be able to ask her next time I see her. The ones that I share a bedroom wall with? I honestly don't even know if someone is living there at the moment. The one person I am close with in the building thinks they moved out at the end of June. I haven't seen their cars since the first of the month. Two new cars showed up in the driveway the first two days of July, but I haven't seen them since. I haven't hear the closet door open and close in awhile. It could just be that they were on vacation last week. If it's still them, I think I've seen them twice in the last year. But if it is new people and they are a couple sleeping in the other bedroom I shouldn't have an issue. I'll figure that out this week. 

 

2 hours ago, Sylvaa said:

 What's the cost of using Uber or Lyft instead? IIRC, when I was in the Boston area, it was less than $20 a trip to get from the suburbs to the city (we were staying in Woburn). 

 

I never even thought of that! I'm in the Woburn area (it's about 20 minutes north of me up the highway). A shared Lyft looks like it would be about $20. 

 

Need opinions. 

 

I've been going to Boston Comic Con every year for the last 5 or so years, for the last 4 I've gotten a hotel room. It started because initially I was an hour+ drive away so it just made sense to stay in Boston. Now I'm only about 20 minutes away, but it's nice after a very long day at the con to just walk across the street and collapse and not have to worry about driving or taking the train and then driving. 

 

This year I had booked 3 nights, checking in Thursday and checking out Sunday. It was going to be over $800. So I decided to take it down to 2 nights. I couldn't change my reservation online without the rate changing, so I booked a second reservation at the cheaper rate, getting it around $500 total. I then couldn't cancel the first one online. I called and was informed that there was a one night penalty charge for cancelling. No where did it say this, it's a Marriott property so I was under the impression that I had up to 3 days before like normal. So I tried to cancel my second one since it was only booked the day before and keep the first. Same penalty. Guy on the phone agreed with me that I shouldn't be penalized trying to cancel a month out. He couldn't get around it so he sent an email to someone to contact me to see if the penalty could be waived for one of the reservations. This was Wednesday, I wasn't expecting to hear back until this week due to the holiday. 

 

My dad is an elite Marriott member. He's been staying with them for over 30 years, they do whatever to please him he's that high up. So I joked I should get him involved and he said he would, just give him the reservations numbers. So, I go online just now to get the information, and come to find out BOTH reservations have been cancelled! I don't know if I've been charged. I wanted to talk to someone to see what my options were. I was still debating on whether or not I wanted to stay for 2 nights. 

 

So here's where I need help. I need to save money. However, I'm also really thinking about my safety. I go hard at the cons, dead on my feet when I leave. Yes, it's only a 20 minute drive, but driving tired is dangerous. 

 

So, do I:

1. Rebook now

2. Wait to make a decision (it's in one month)

3. Drive in, but still need to pay $60 a day for parking (about $180 for the entire weekend)

 

I had it budgeted, but do I stick with it is what it's coming down to.