Weigh-in Day...and thoughts!

Okay, so I was disappointed when I first got on the scale this morning. It said 269.4, but I got back on right before I left for my final exam...266.6. I got back on a few more times to make sure that was the correct weight...and IT WAS! yay!

So now, I'm totally motivated and excited. That's a big loss...5 pounds! WW online wags its finger at losing more than 2 lbs/week, but at the meetings, my leader would congratulate big losses. I guess as long as you do not lose more than 2 lbs/week over a long period of time.

Well, I am challenging myself NOT to use exams as an excuse for me to pig out and gain for next week's weigh-in. As a matter of fact, I'm going to try to go to the gym after every exam this week...except today. I need to use today to write a paper for my economic problems class.

So, I hope whoever is reading this blog is enjoying the music...if it's annoying, just pause it! I just thought since this blog is about me, how I feel, and what I like/dislike, I would put up the music that I like. Most of it's TLC, but I will probably put up some more at another time.

Random thought: My first exam was in my racial minorities class, and the essay and short answer questions were SO much easier than the multiple choice questions.

Anyhow, the more I get into sociology, the more and more I love it. You can apply it to almost everything...Sociology of Sports course??? okay then! I've been analyzing all the music I listen to lately...don't judge me (tee hee). I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I plan on going to a School of Public Health to get a Master's in Public Health Education and Behavioral Science. There are so many sociological factors that go into what choices people make (such as eating habits, sexual behavior, exercise), and I can't wait to dive into the study and application of it all...i'm a nerd, sorry! College is such a great place to be, there is so much at your fingertips...of course, being in Starkville, MS isn't like being in ATL (which is where I want to go after here...Emory University, baby!). My internship this summer in Mobile should give me good insight into actual research and working with people of interest...super excited.

Now, back to music...music is such a creative outlet! Hopefully, you've at least listened to the first song playing on my page. It's called "Sumthin Wicked This Way Comes" by TLC (Andre 3000 from Outkast raps at the beginning). It's talking about gangs, people judging others, the ways of the world, nostalgia to how it used to be. I wish more artists would focus on making people aware of the bad things going on. Yeah, it's a fact that police usually go after black and Hispanic people; if you have money, you can afford cars, clothes, a big house, bling; and if you have the right looks or ASSets, you can take somebody's man. But there is so much more going on in America. AIDS is still out of control, people are losing homes and jobs, teenage pregnancy is spiraling out of control (so apparently, more people need to advertise condoms...a lot of people are surprised to hear me condone condom use because I'm Catholic; of course, I think people should chaste, but if you just can't control yourself, use protection!), bullying is showing nasty side effects (all these children committing suicide...a child? Taking his/her own life because of emotional pain? We've got to do something), gangs are still prevalent, I don't know what has happened to girls' self esteem (you can be proud of your body, but leave somethin to the imagination...don't just let it all hang out and get mad at a guy for staring or touching), and music videos are getting out of control! I have never seen so much violence and booty in my life. Music artists have so much influence, especially on the youth, that they can do so much good. While it's ideally the family that controls how a child comes out, some children look to peers or their idols for what is right...why not point them in the right (or at least, the most constructive) way? Poor babies...they...we (people my age, too) are lost to the whims of a progressive society moving on a not-the-best path.

What do you think about the entertainment industry and its effect on today's youth (4-23 yrs)?

the TRUTH shall set you free...right?

Okay, I decided to actually say my actual weight (I know I have the little tracker at the top of my blog, but I think I need to actually say it...or write it).
Last year, in January, I got on my scale, and it read 278.4. I was devastated! I did not know I had let my weight get THAT out of control. So I started Weight Watchers online, and lost 11 pounds in about 2 months...then Spring Break came, and I stopped counting points...for the rest of the year. I guess I wasn't that determined.
So, January rolls around this year, and I step on the scale...288.8

Well, that settled it...I had to do something. I was only 11.2 lbs from 300 lbs.

So yay! I started Weight Watchers online again...and haven't looked back since. I went through Spring Break...I didn't count points all the time, but I watched portions and used hunger signals. I had lost .6 when I got back to school...not great, but better than gaining. So the week of Easter I had lost 20 lbs exactly.

The two weeks after Easter, however, I had gotten out of the habit of going to the gym. I also wasn't counting all the time. I gained about 4 pounds (but I think I was retaining water, too).

I've pretty much gotten back on track. I've lost the 4 lbs + 1, so that's good. But I hate I'm not exercising like I should be. I walk to class, but that's about it. I think all the stress of finals is weighing me down...i take like a 3 hour nap ALMOST everyday after class...that can't be good.

So my actual (not official, since it's not my weigh-in day yet) weight is 266.6. 22.2 lbs gone...I've lost it pretty slow, but that's better than going towards 300. People, without me even asking, say they can tell. So that feels great! I've noticed some extra room in my clothes, not to the point where I need to buy new clothes, but a little.

Usually, I would be so embarrassed to tell my weight to people; but I feel like my current weight is something to be proud of. Can't wait til actual weigh-in day so I can call the folks!

Well, now that I've talked about weight, I would like to move on to something else. I have fallen so back in love with TLC (the greatest girl group of all time, not the TV network...RIP Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes). I've bought so many of their songs on iTunes. They speak on so many things outside of relationships (which is usual r&b), but I was researching them, and they were a part of the New Jack Swing movement. New Jack Swing combined jazz, r&b, rap, and pop. Genius!

But I particularly love "His Story," "Sumthin Wicked This Way Comes," "Creep," "Waterfalls," "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg (lol)," "Case of the Fake People," "What About Your Friends," "Hat 2 the Back," "Baby Baby Baby," "Silly Ho," and pretty much everything else they made. I really can't think of any of their songs I don't like. Even their more current songs (2002) were good. I suggest to anybody reading this to go check out the aforementioned songs on Youtube. And T-boz has a new album coming out some time in the future/near future...Lil Wayne's on the song called Rebel Yell. Chilli was doin somethin'...I remember a song called Dumb Dumb Dumb, but I know if they ever released it. Left-Eye's "Eye Legacy" came out this January. The songs are fine to me, but that may be becaused I'm biased and I support TLC no matter what (some critics gave it a bad review). But I love "Let's Just Do It," "Spread Your Wings," and "Through the Pain" (you should check those out, too).

I don't wanna make it sound like I only like TLC. I loved almost all the music during the 90s except Country and Heavy Metal....I also wasn't a big fan of Gangsta Rap (some of it was okay). But I do love Taylor Swift!

Okay, that's enough for right now. I have to wash my clothes and hair...be back later, hopefully, after studying. Gee, no fun this weekend.