New Year New Jackie?

I'm back. For real this time. I'm so sorry for my absence, bloggers. This year, I'm resolving to remain active within this wonderfully supportive group of bandsters, bypassers, and anyone else who happens by my blog. That being said, if anyone is still reading this blog, then they need to be caught up on a few things since my last post. I finished my wonderful student teaching experience on December 7th and on December 15th, I became a college graduate. In my immediate family, I'm the first and only to graduate with a bachelor's degree. I'm just waiting for my Pennsylvania Teacher's Certification and then I'll be ready for the job hunt. I've been accepted as a substitute teacher at the school where I did my student teaching, but I'm waiting for my replacement social security card to come in before I can begin working. I can't wait. Hopefully within the next year or two I'll be able to find a full time teaching job and won't have to rely on the uncertainty of substitute teaching.

In some less awesome news, I rang in the New Year at a whopping 238 pounds. Over the course of student teaching and the holiday season, I gained back 30 pounds! It sucks. Bad. But, I'm doing something about it. I've been planning my meals, writing down every single thing I eat, and making sure I drink all my water. I'm really having to get back to basics with this. I've even started exercising daily (well, every day since New Year's day, but I'm going to keep it up). I've never been good at exercising regularly, always finding excuses. However, at my last trip to visit my PA, she told me that I can do yoga and count that as exercise. Not hot yoga, not fat burning yoga, just regular old yoga. I'd never done it before, so I was skeptical, but on New Year's day, Ben and I pulled up this video on Youtube and we gave it a try. For the past 6 or 7 years, I've had chronic back pain. I tried this video and while the pain isn't gone entirely, it sure has helped. It's so relaxing. We were both surprised at how much we enjoyed it. In only four days of doing it, I can definitely see an improvement in my flexibility, too. It's great. In addition, we've been doing this walking video. It's snowy here in Pittsburgh, so I didn't want to go outside and walk. This video is a great alternative. With these new habits in place, I've already lost some weight. I'm not going to say just how much yet, but since the new year started on a Tuesday, I've decided to make Tuesdays my new weigh in day. Nothing wrong with a fresh start, right?

So, here are some goals for 2013:
-Start reading and commenting on your blogs again (I feel terrible for not implementing this sooner!)
-Blog at least twice a week
-Follow bandster rules (tracking calories, protein [and fat, per my PA], getting water in, timing eating, etc.)
-Do yoga at least one time per day and the walking video at least 5 times per week (until I feel like expanding my horizons and maybe trying Jillian Michaels again)
-Onederland by my birthday (April 19)
-Fit into size 16 dress that I picked up for $17 at Fashion Bug for my cousin's wedding June 15.
-150 by 2014.


I'm anxious to read your blogs and get caught up on what you've all been doing. It'll be a slow process, so please bear with me while I get caught up. It's been quite a long time. Anyway, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy and safe  New Year's Eve/Day.

xoxo