Home Organization as a Weight Loss Tool

I am not the only person who eats when they are stressed out or feeling overwhelmed. I know that for myself and many other people a messy home can trigger these feelings. My partner and I have struggled for over a year since we moved in together to get our apartment in shape (or fit!) We had too many belongings for the space. My partner especially has a tough time getting rid of things, old paperwork, toys, odds and ends he may one day want for a project. 

A few weeks ago he had a few days he took off from work for vacation. Unfortunately we needed to be in town for part of the weekend for a funeral. We decided that we would put off our camping trip and use his vacation days to get our house in shape and spend some quality time together. 

In the end we got our bedroom completely cleaned out and organized. It feels great! I tell you every time I need to go in there for something during my day I get a little buzz. It is so nice now. It helps me feel more in control of my life. This feeling carries over into other choices I make, like my diet and physical activities. 

Part of this project was also creating a little studio for me to work in. I quilt and do other fabric related projects. 

I forgot to take a before picture of the studio side of my bedroom, but I do have some fun pictures of what we did. 

All of the stuff that came out of the bedroom, way too much stuff

You can see we took the dresser drawers out too. We actually went through and got rid of clothes we don't wear, and folded everything. We tried to focus on all the details we could, and get the room really polished. 

My craft shelf before, really poorly organized and bad use of space

Turning an old dresser into my new sewing table. Yes the dresser was black, I was 15 the last time I painted it. 

Craft shelf organized now. The big cardboard box stores all my quilting fabric. I even have room now for batting as you can see on the bottom shelf

Studio

Frizzy and Fabric

Getting fit can affect many parts of your life. Try cleaning or organizing something, use the energy you get from that to focus on yourself and your diet or exercise. It was inspiring for me.

Interview Outfit

I did remember to take a photo once I was in my interview outfit. It's from my phone and the quality is not super.

frizzy and job hunting 

Monday Morning Measurements

I didn't take any measurements yet.
But I did weigh myself this morning.

231!

Lost two pounds this week.

AND

I had a job interview today that went really well. I don't know yet if I have a second interview. We will see.

Job Interview!

FRIZZY AND SHOPPING!

I have been working with a temp agency for about a year now. I've only had two jobs so far though. This agency doesn't place you, they give you tons of information about all sorts of jobs, and asks that you apply to the ones you are interested in. They store information about you, so you just click, and you are applied. They do some of the more traditional temp type work, where they give you a call and send you out the next day, but I haven't had any of those actually.

Lately I've been thinking that this agency and I were not the best match. I had been struggling to find jobs that would suit me. However, I saw a listing last week for a major non-profit that looked super. Well I get to interview with the organization on Monday!

I have a few nice professional pieces, for situations like this. Though the slacks I have were too short, and I altered them myself. The only problem with this is that the work hasn't lasted very long, they need a touch up.

I am so excited about this interview, however, that I decided to go buy a new blouse. Something for luck and confidence.

I have been trying to avoid buying clothes because I really believe I am on the path to losing weight. I do believe though that doing small things to make yourself feel better can have a big impact. So one new shirt might make all the difference on Monday!

I will post pictures when I get back.

7:46 : I totally forgot to get pictures. Sorry blog. I got a funky but professional tank to wear under my suit jacket. Wish me luck.

Try New Veggies

I have been focusing on my diet this week. I eat fairly well most of the time, but obviously if I ate well all the time I would lose weight. I admit that my partner and I get convenience food for dinner when we are busy. Which is ridiculous because I am unemployed, and I should have time to cook dinner most nights. I also admit that I binge eat from time to time. I often snack after dinner, or have two helpings. This has contributed to my weight staying the same for so long.

So I have been focusing on making really yummy dinners and having a healthy portion. Focusing on being positive, instead of feeling restricted in what I eat.

To further these efforts, we got some yummy vegetables at the local farmers market. We also got one we have never had before.

Luffa looks like this at the store - wiki commons photo

Luffa! Also known as Silk Gourd or Chinese Okra. That's right, the same luffa they use to make shower sponges. When it is young it is commonly eaten in Vietnam and many parts of Asia. It is part of the cucumber family of vegetables.

The luffa cut up, I put some other veggies in the shot to look nice and fresh. We only got two little ones to try so they didn't go very far. 

I actually lived in China for six months, and have taught myself to cook a lot of the dishes I miss. So I used the luffa along with eggplant for Fish Fragrant Eggplant, Yu Xiang Qie Zi.

Dinner turned out pretty good. The luffa were really soft, I overcooked them. They did taste like cucumber, but were a bit slimy, less so than okra. 

My partner was really excited to make a GIF on his new phone. So there I am. 

Frizzy and cooking 

Monday Morning Measurements

Welcome to my new series Monday Morning Measurements!

But first, a little bit of what I think about weights and measures.

I don't think weight or measurements are super important in getting fit. I think that it should be about how you feel. I know that right now my body does not feel fit, and I am disappointed in my physical limitations.

I also think a lot about body shaming. One of my favorite blogs had a good article the other day about how to prevent and respond to body shaming, http://offbeathome.com/2013/08/body-shaming. I try not to shame myself, or hate my body. It is my only body and I need to love it and take care of it. I can love everyone's body, and not disparage them. It is not my place to judge anyone else's bodies.

Yet I do think that if you feel like you would like to be more fit, and in the process be a smaller size, that is valid as well. I know that my body will feel better if I wasn't carrying around this weight. I will not make the same assumption for other people though, how they feel or how fit they are, is not my business.

So why post weights and measures at all?

Frizzy and trying not to sunburn

I want this blog to inspire myself and hopefully one day inspire others. This means I need a way to show people the changes I go through, and how I achieved them. My weight and measurements are a good way to demonstrate these changes. I will also be creating a fitness regime, pushups and such, and show that I can improve on those as well.

I weigh 233 pounds this morning
My measurements are: Bust 40 inches,  Waist 50 inches,  Hips 45 inches