Sorry for the lack of updates! This week I weighed in and lost another 2 pounds. That puts my total loss at 12 pounds total. I’m pretty happy with Weight Watchers so far and am hoping my progress continues. Something I learned this week: Chipotle is deceiving. I got a burrito bowl, hoping it would be healthier. The whole thing was 19 points! I had chicken, black beans, tomato salsa, lettuce, cheese, quac and sour cream. Now, Obviously the points are in the last three right? I had it again and took out the quac and cheese and it became 13 points. That’s still a lot of points! The rice and beans pack quite a bit of calories. Chipotle always seems healthy, but it’s quite dangerous as you can see.

Anyway, here’s the breakdown of weekly progress.

1/26/10     5 lbs
2/2/10        2 lbs
2/9/10        1 lb
2/16/10     2 lbs
2/23/10     2 lbs

Total Loss  12 lbs

I need to send a little love in the way of my boo Jason Mraz this week. If you aren’t aware, Jason picked up too (very much deserved) awards this past weekend. Jason one Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Make it Mine and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for Lucky (with Colbie Caillat). I’m so excited for him and send congratulations and love through the ether-waves/blogosphere/whatever. If you know me, you know that I have a bit of a love affair with him. I also read his blog and you should probably do the same.

Congrats Jason! Above is Traveler/Make It Mine from his live dvd recorded in Chicago. I was, of course, in attendance.

I should have blogged last week, but didn’t. Oops. As you might remember, I have a current goal to lose 30 lbs before my 30th birthday. I’m using weight watchers with coworkers as my catalyst. I’m happy to let all of you know that last week I lost 5 lbs after my first full week with weight watchers! Today was my second weigh-in and I lost an additional 2 lbs.

I’m pretty happy with the results so far. Weight Watchers, to be honest, isn’t terribly difficult. I have just found that I’m more deliberate about my eating, the time I eat and definitely what I eat.

As a “diet,” I certainly don’t feel hungry or even like I’m on a diet.If you’re thinking about Weight Watchers as an option, give it a whirl.

1/26/10     5 lbs

2/2/10        2 lbs

Total Loss  7 lbs

I wrestled with whether or not I would write about this. Ultimately, I feel it might help me hold myself accountable. So here goes. I joined weight watchers (OMG I said it). A few people from work wanted to do it and I promised I’d join in the fun if they did. Well they did. If you know me personally, you’ll know that I’ve gained a little weight since I quit smoking almost 3 years ago. It’s been extremely gradual, so most have barely noticed. However, I have gained 30 pounds in the last 3 years. No joke.

As I look the ripe age of 30 in the eye, I can’t think of a better time to get back in shape and stay healthy. So my goal is to lose 30 lbs, before I turn 30 years old. It’s a very achievable goal, as I have 6 months to do it. I weigh in every Tuesday (doing it online and not going to meetings) so I’ll update on here every week. I’ll try not to go to overboard with the weight loss talk, but I’m kind of excited.

As many of you know, I’ve been taking piano lessons for the last 4 years. I also took when I was younger, but the gap between caused me to lose a bit of skill. I’m starting to get more confident playing harder pieces, which has been delightful.

Regardless, today’s “ditty” pick is a bit unconventional, but I wanted to share a bit of the classics with my peeps. Beethoven has been a favorite of mine for a long time, especially his sonatas. I’ve recently grown a strong liking to the Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, especially the third movement. It’s commonly known as The Tempest. All three movements are wonderful, but I have a tendency to go crazy for Beethoven’s third movements. I’m not sure why. The above video is Wilhelm Kempff (one of my favorites) playing the third movement. Gorgeous!

I’ve included the other two movements after the jump. Listen to them in order if you feel so inclined.

1st Movement

2nd Movement

There are many theories floating around about why the above picture is reality. The ultimate irony (and not the funny kind) is that a Republican replaces Ted Kennedy’s seat in a year in which health care reform could be stalled by a single vote. This reform, as you know, was something Kennedy fought for, for years.

I won’t spend a ton of time talking about this election, but I certainly hope the DNC does.

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

-Psalm 46:10

I draw my ears, my eyes, my heart and my soul to the devastation present in Haiti. Like others (I imagine), the images we’ve seen are very hard to swallow. I’m left feeling helpless as I watch hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking the aid of the world. What is one to do when helping seems so insignificant. I’m reminded of the hymn, Be Still My Soul, when I’m longing for answers to questions that seem completely out of my grasp.

As I make health kits through the United Methodist Committee on Relief and donate to the American Red Cross, I still sit here wondering what else can I do. I’ll certainly find ways to continue to help through various organizations, but is that it? Will that suffice? Perhaps all that is left is stand still, and pray. I can do that.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow for forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

God bless the people of Haiti, those who have perished, those who have survived and those who have lost everything. God bless the people of the world for their prayers, their aid and their hope.

Kicking it old school this morning with a little When In Rome. This song never fails me. I’m not sure I ever posted this video back in the day when I did Sunday Throwback. It’s been in my head for over a week now, if not longer. Happy Humpday!

The image above is that of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, a same-sex couple from Malawi who’ve been jailed and are standing trial for…you guessed it…homosexuality.

If the picture doesn’t speak 1,000 words, the two men have been handcuffed together in the back of a truck, while taunted by a riled up crowd. Each could spend years in prison for nothing other than expressing their love in a public ceremony of friends.

With the Federal Proposition 8 challenge underway this week in the US, it seems important to note the freedoms gay and lesbians do have in this country. I can’t imagine the pain and torment these two are going through and thankful I don’t have to.

*Still Moment will be a weekly blog post in which I’ll post an image I’ve found that I find worthy of sharing.