Oh, what a beautiful day!
LAST WEEK'S WEIGHT: 137.8
CURRENT WEIGHT: 135.6
POUNDS TO GOAL WEIGHT: 10.6
I knew a loss was coming. After pledging to stop binging for Jesus exactly seven days ago, I've been stepping on the scale every other morning in anticipation of Weight Loss Wednesday, looking for proof that my efforts weren't in vain. Apparently my Lord and Savior is a more effective motivator than being able to button my pants.
There's so much to talk about, and I've been meaning to blog every day since Monday, but for some reason the words aren't coming like I want them to. I've been pleasantly surprised at my ability to exert self-control, to step away from that bag of salt-and-pepper potato chips, box of Git 'Er Done™ chocolates received from well-meaning neighbors, and coveted package of Thin Mints before doing serious damage to my waistline and self-esteem. (This is good news for Luke, who gave up cookies for Lent. Poor Luke!) (Also, how evil are the Girl Scouts for scheduling their deliveries after Ash Wednesday?) The progress hasn't been huge--turning down a third slice of pizza is grand, but it's still pizza, and dude, two slices!--but I'm happy. To make my ten-pound goal more attainable, I'm setting several mini-goals to help me get there. For example: next week I'll aim for an even 134 on the scale. If I'm successful, I'll have lost my first five pounds since moving forward with this whole "Fitness Schmitness" attitude last November. (Well, it would've been five pounds; either way, I'm counting it as a big deal, seeing as my lowest weight thus far's been 135.) And if that happens, there will most definitely be a picture, which might be scary for all of us, seeing as I'm three weeks overdue for a hair cut. March 10th can't come fast enough.
In regards to my Lenten commitments, I've been doing well in that department, too. Last Tuesday I deleted the Monday-through-Friday recording of All My Children from my VCR and took my New American Bible down from its dusty spot on my bookshelf, placing it on top of the cheapie plastic filing cabinet next to my nightstand (on top of Christopher Pike's Spellbound, which I found at Half-Price Books for a quarter and am just now reading for the first time, OMG) so that I'm more likely to pick it up before bed. So far I've touched on the first couple of chapters in Genesis and the beginning of Matthew's gospel (including the introduction), and for the first time, I feel like I'm really thinking about the life Jesus lived and what he went through before he died. Also, with all the religious exploration I've done in the last year, I'm more interested in studying this Good Book as a historical text. I used to think the Bible was just the Bible--one universal table of contents, one agreed-upon translation--when really each denomination embraces a particular version and all of these versions have nuances unique to their sect and oh my gosh, it's a miracle Christianity survived when we all can't even agree on the same damn manual.
Anyway, let's move on to the AMC thing, which, let's face it, is probably what you're really most interested in. Logistically speaking, the not-watching part of it hasn't been hard; since I'm not taping it, and I don't have cable, and not having cable means not having SOAP NET, there's no way to cheat on that one unless I make the twenty-five minute commute back home to plop on my couch and catch up on Zach and Kendall's progress with the Satin Slayer (seriously one of the dumbest storylines this show has ever done but I still want to see Alexander Cambias, Senior brought to justice) in real time. And since making two round trips to work five times a day would put a serious damper on my gas budget, there you go. No AMC.
Giving up the message board, however, hasn't been as simple. Before last Wednesday, I was checking that puppy at least three times an hour, reveling in the latest batch of spoilers and enjoying discussions on controversial plot points, like whether or not Krystal carrying Tad's baby and passing it off as Adam's is just as detestable as her helping Babe keep Bianca's baby for ten months, allowing Bianca to believe that Miranda drowned in a river minutes after her birth (close, but the "your baby's dead" thing still wins). I enjoy reading episode threads maintained by various posters and the lively commentary they provide. Those people have no idea who I am, but lurking on that site has been a fun way to stay connected with a show that in 2004 fast became my favorite form of escapism.
As fellow AMC junkie Dawnie can attest to, committing to a daily program is no easy task; forty-five minutes a day isn't too bad, but when you miss Monday's episode, you spend the length of a movie catching up on Monday and Tuesday. Miss Monday and Tuesday and you're going to start your Wednesday two hours and fifteen minutes in the hole. "I'll just skim through the scenes with JR and Babe and Tad and Krystal and ignore the rest," you think, but suddenly it's twelve-thirty in the morning and you're wondering what the hell happened to your evening, and hey, at what point did your husband go to bed without you?
So this boycott, it's been a good thing. Though I was flipping through the entertainment section of the paper yesterday and accidentally glanced at the weekly soap update. Nothing was revealed I didn't already know, but still, it was enough to peak my interest. AMC, what have you done to me?
In other news, today is the last day of the first month of Luke's and my new budgeting system. More details tomorrow.
You are doing superb! Now if you can keep your friend and those blissful Maria yearbooks from keeping you up half the night, you'll be on your way. Ahem.
Congrats on the loss! That's awesome!
Posted by: Molly | February 28, 2007 at 03:32 PM
OMG...Christopher Pike. I haven't heard that name in years. I think I've read everything he's written AND Judy Blume. They made my pre-teen years surviveable.
Way to go on the sacrificing! You rock. It's been quite a challenge to put a muzzle on my potty mouth, but I'm really working hard at it.
Oh, and I can't wait to hear about your budgeting. I've put myself on a Dave Ramsey-esque budget for the past two months and it's really made a difference.
Posted by: takin chances | February 28, 2007 at 04:28 PM
Congrats on the loss!!
Also, Christopher Pike?! Loved reading him when I was a teenager!!!
I'm with you on the AMC thing, except that I watch The Young and the Restless. I could not give my soap up, I love it! Also, I have SoapNet so it is easy to try to cheat and if not during the week then, on Sat. when they show all of that week's shows!!
Posted by: Rachel | February 28, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Binging for Jesus? Man, if that were really a devotional option, not only would I be more actively religious, I would be a bishop or something.
It is interesting, to me at least, how my relationship to the Bible has changed over the years. As it ceased to be so much of a devotional text, it still remained important to my scholarly life.
It is hard to understand European history without understanding the fact that Christianity is probably the single most important force in driving events from the fall of Rome to at least the nineteenth century (and perhaps up to the first World War). Religion was a crucial defining factor in people's lives in a way that it really is not anymore.
Also, I was always struck by the fact that one of the first acts of Protestant reformers was to translate the Bible into the local, or "vulgar," language. Martin Luther did it in German; Henry VIII (by way of William Tyndale) did it in English.
Perhaps it has a lot to do with the Protestant notion of freeing the people from the shackles of the Catholic hierarchy and promoting a more personal relationship with God. It also had a lot to do with a growing national conciousness that would reach its full expression only centuries later.
The translating of the Bible also, interestingly, led to the first widespread campaigns for literacy and education for all people at some elementary (no pun intended) level.
Sorry to ramble, as always. I forget that things that are interesting to me are boring or irritating to others...just ask my students.
Posted by: Alexander Pavlovich Romanov, Autocrat of All the Russias | March 01, 2007 at 01:48 AM
Amen! Following a soap opera is a commitment, that's for sure. My mom tends to watch it all on Saturday mornings, but I like to watch what I can during the week - going into the weekend knowing that I have FIVE HOURS of drama to catch up on is a little much for me. (In a similar vein, a few months ago my mom added General Hospital to her viewing when they brought Laura back. I was all, "Mom, that is TEN HOUR of soap opera EVERY WEEK. Have you lost it?" I have no idea if she's still watching GH, or if it's fallen by the wayside.)
However, congrats on both the weight loss and on kicking your AMC habit! It sounds like you're off to a good start for Lent. (Meanwhile, I'll be happy if I can get through the next 6 weeks without eating meat on Fridays, since I always, always forget. I blew it on Ash Wednesday, but I'm 1 for 1 on the Fridays so far!)
Posted by: Dawn | March 01, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Woooohoooo! Congrats on the weight loss.
I've been doing really well so far. But today, my coworker got Wendy's for lunch and it took everything I had to smell that food and not attack her.
Posted by: Silly Hily aka The Hilarazzi | March 01, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Wow...you are devoted to this show. How intense!! I wonder if you'll stay away from it after Lent. What do you think?!
Posted by: Isabel | March 02, 2007 at 12:08 PM
Oh, I am in PAIN for you. I really get testy if I miss Young and the Restless. That is true sacrifice.
And I also loved Christopher Pike! Haven't thought of that name for years!
Posted by: Stacey | March 06, 2007 at 09:18 AM