Day 17: I Got The Job!

I'm going to Seattle!  I got the job offer this evening!  It's a 10 month commitment and it starts September 1st.  I'm so happy right now.  I've worked out the past three days.  I'm feeling good.  My mom and I went to Fashion Bug and I got some new pieces, two of which I'm wearing right now.  I got a super cute skirt.  It's a cotton, knee-length.  It has a blue and white floral pattern.  I have a matching blue plain tank.  I also got a very summery top.  It's white with a green and blue butterfly print on it.  It cinches at the waist.  I like it a lot.  I'm starting to see some changes in my body.  My boobs are getting a touch smaller but they are also perkier.  I'll take that trade any day.  I'm so ecstatic about this placement.  I can't wait to get in there and start helping people.  It also means that my interview win streak is still going.  I've gotten every job that I've ever interviewed for.  My mom says that I need to work on my personality but this is conclusive proof that, at least at first blush, I'm cute and gosh darn it, people like me.  Yay!!!!

Day 10: 100 Posts and 1.4 Pounds Gained

Well, things have been shitty lately.  I'm feeling alone and floundering.  I gained 1.4 pounds if you can't tell from the title.  Yesterday was quite possibly one of the worst days of my life.  I think that says more about how charmed my life has been so far but it still sucked.  I waited by the phone for 2 hours for a phone call that never came.  That will hopefully be remedied in about 20 minutes.  Then, at 10 p.m. last night, when I was about to go to bed for my early shift, I got a phone call from the co-owner of Biggby Plainwell saying that I was terminated for defamatory comments on my Facebook page.  Note, Warren said nothing of the comments being untrue, just that did not show his company in the best light.  I'm sorry but if you pay me minimum wage and only give me 5 hours in a week, you do not get a PR rep.  You get minimum wage level commitment.  Actually, since it was me, I think they got a bargain because I was promoting and upselling like I got a share of the profits.  I went in to pick up my last pay check and drop off my shirts and handbook today.  Last night, after the phone call, I wrote letters to Brooke, my manager whom I have mentioned before on the blog, and Cheryl, Warren's wife, Brooke's mom and co-owner of the Biggby I worked at.  If you guys want, I can post those letters.  Basically, they were apologies for inappropriate comments and saying that I thought they were wrong for firing me.  Brooke's letter was a lot nicer because I don't think she wanted to fire me.  When I went in to drop everything off, Cheryl told me she was sorry things had to end this way but I said negative things about the company.  That's the part that is really bothering me.  On both occasions, I was told that what I did was wrong because I didn't "portray the company with a positive image" not because I lied.  I value honesty.  I guess I think it's more important to tell the truth than be on message and deliver the company line.  That's why I could never run for office.  I'm too good for that.  I thought I worked for a simple coffee shop, not Fox News.  I wonder if I told everyone that Biggby Corporate were unicorns and management shat rainbows would I still be fired?  Saying the positive is more important than saying the truth.  The funny thing is, I got my information that got me fired from my evaluation.
Here is a direct quote from the evaluation I received the day I posted what got me fired:
"Areas which make you a good BIGGBY barista:
Positive attitude
On time and in uniform
Great at up-selling and suggestive selling
Keeping yourself busy during slow times
Availability"
My comment was basically to the effect of "Despite all the above listed things, I only got five hours this week.  Biggby apparently doesn't value these qualities very much."  While I did use profanity, I don't really see how this is untrue or even based on partial truths.  I have a piece of paper in front of me telling me these things and in the comments section it said that they could only give me limited hours.  Life lesson learned.  Don't express how you feel.  Or at least don't do so if people are more concerned about image than truth.

Day 4: Americorps!

I had my Americorps interview this morning.  Apparently, it went well because I got an e-mail saying I was approved on the wait list about 2 hours after I had hung up the phone.  I was previously unaware that once on the wait list, the selection process is random.  However, I would like to keep up my winning streak.  The other day I came to the realization that I have received every position I ever had an interview for.  I did Cardio Party today.  My knees and ankles were bugging me but I was wearing my ankle brace.  I hope that doesn't become a common occurrence.  High impact can really take a toll and then my workouts end before I'm thoroughly tired.

Day 1: First Weigh In

I really should stop this numbering of days because I keep starting over again.  Today is the first day of the competition so it continues whether or not I'm good.  I weighed myself this morning and I am 264 pounds.  I may not like it but it gives me a starting point.  My goal is to lose 25 pounds throughout the 12 weeks of the competition but I may set my sights higher.  I think losing 10% of my body weight is a solid step in the right direction.  I don't think I'll win with that number so I may start stepping up my weight loss goals toward the end.  Who knows?  Brooke, my manager, and I were working together as just the two of us.  She said that she had a competition with some other women at Little Caesar's and she won but then put the weight on again.  I think I can get a bet going with her too.  Or possibly be work out buddies but she is working all of the time.  That might make things difficult for that particular endeavor.  I don't normally get sugary drinks at work. However, there are no more frozen mochas or creme freezes in my near future.  I might switch over to iced Americanos with some sugar-free hazelnut or Irish cream syrup.  Today, I also re-read Such A Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster.  She is so hilarious.  It makes me feel good to read a weight loss memoir but it also makes me want to get a personal trainer because I think that's what really made the difference for her.  She started out at a size 24 so we are at the same starting position.  I've been eating well so far today.  Since my mom and I were both working yesterday, we are doing Fourth of July dinner today.  We are having steaks on the grill, sweet corn and potato salad.  Everyone else is doing American potato salad with mayo and hard-boiled eggs while I reserved some potatoes for myself and made a potato salad very similar to what Tina's mom made for us while we were staying in lovely Bavaria nearly a year ago.  I'm looking forward to it.  I just did the Fat Blaster workout from Turbo Jam so I am thoroughly sweaty, though not as tired as I usually am after such an intense workout.  Good sign, yes?  I know it's only the first day but I'm hoping this could be it.

It's Go Time!: Bet Edition

The competition starts tomorrow.  Unfortunately (strategically speaking as well), I am going through a bout of food poisoning.  Today, I am feeling significantly better.  However, the lack of appetite and other related symptoms would have been a boon during the competition.  Since it hit me before, all of those lost pounds just decrease my starting weight.  My mom bought a new scale with a digital read-out to make things a touch more accurate.  I have faith in my competitive drive to pull me through on this.  Although we may find out which is stronger, my need to be an asshole when there is something to win or my love of bacon.  It'll be a tough one.  I'm hoping asshole wins because that means I'm healthy, physically and mentally.

Day Whatever: Long Time, No See

Ok, I'm sorry for not blogging for so long.  I really can't even blame it on being busy.  I have been working and such but not so much that I don't have time for this.  I've not been as diligent as I should be about working out but I have new motivation!  There is a weight loss competition at my mom's work that I am entering in that starts on Monday.  It lasts 12 weeks.  There is a $5 buy-in plus $1 for every week that you don't lose weight.  At the end, the person to lose the largest percentage of their starting weight gets the pot.  I think my competitive side plus having a set end date will be immensely helpful for me.  This morning I did the Power 90 cardio workout without abs.  I'm not a big fan of it because it's really repetitive and there are 2 sections that really get my heart rate up but then the other 3 are fairly bland.  They also build muscle because I do get to the point of muscle fatigue.  It's not that I'm out of breath; it's just that my arms get tired for doing the same motion for 3 minutes without a break.  I need to keep my motivation up.  I know that my life is at stake right now so I need to keep this up.  I need to get all of the excuses out of the way.  Another really helpful thing right now is my mom's veggie co-op.  She gets a delivery of whatever is in season every week.  It means that we always have fresh stuff in the house.  Berries are also in season which means they are super cheap.  I'm telling you, Greek yogurt with a handful of blackberries or raspberries is the way to go.  It's delicious and fresh and really healthy.  I think I will also add a gadget onto my blog to put up weight and track it there.  I have to report it for the competition and I know it will push me even more to be accountable to all 2 of my readers.  :)