Motivation to Diet

John and I are on a diet.  We're spending this month focusing on diet and exercise - with the hopes of losing weight, being healthier, and saving money.

Now me?  I've been trying to lose weight for at least two years now - ever since I started taking birth control pills and jumped 50 lbs in 6 months.  I don't have to be the same size I was in college, but I'd like to not be in the "overweight" category! 

On the other hand, John seems to have no real trouble with his weight.  When he's busy or stressed or happy, he sometimes forgets to eat, and loses weight no problem.  But he's a big guy, and it wouldn't hurt him to lose a bit of weight as well.  His motivation right now is China.

See, he's working in a lab that is full of Chinese people.  The primarily language of the lab is Mandarin, and John is loving it.  We both had Asian roommates in college, so we're much more familiar with the culture than most Americans (I think).  Both of us are interested in the possibility of moving to China or Taiwan or someplace someday.

And Chinese people (for the most part) are much smaller than Americans.  They don't weigh as much, and there is a greater emphasis on appearances there.  If we are working towards being able to move there and be a part of that culture, the best thing for us to do is to work on trying to "fit in" - as much as we can, of course.

And while my short-term motivation happens to be my brother's wedding (he still hasn't asked her yet - but it's supposed to be this summer!), I will admit that I'd certainly feel better moving to China if I were about 30-40 lbs lighter ...

Challenges and Pirates!

Last night I made John take me to see The Pirates of Penzance.  I've wanted to see it for years, and a professional traveling Gilbert & Sullivan group was performing in town.  John got in free with his student ID, and I got a discount because I'm staff at the university, ... so we got to see a professional opera performance for $10!

Totally worth it!

If you don't know anything about the show, Pirates is just a goofy, silly opera (in English) with a crazy storyline that is written to make you laugh.  You know it's silly when the largest real conflict of the performance depends entirely on the question "How old are you if you are born on February 29th?"

The singing and dancing were lively and enthusiastic.  John and I laughed throughout the entire thing, and a good time was had by all.


Yesterday John and I started a month-long diet and exercise program.  I've been trying to lose weight for about two years now, which honestly has been difficult because John keeps bringing home ice cream.  And asking me to make cookies and cheesecake, etc.  And the fact that I love bread.

Anyway, this time we're doing it together.  We've decided that we're going to eat simply (meat, veggie/salad) for dinners, and go to the gym at least 4 days a week.  As a reward for not cheating and meeting our goals for the week, we're treating ourselves to something on either Friday or Saturday.  That treat can be ice cream or dessert, or whatever. 

We're not doing a fancy exercise program or hiring a trainer or taking a class, but we're being very professional about it.  We weighed ourselves yesterday, and then took each other's measurements, and we're going to see where we are after four weeks.

So, this is Day Two.  Here's hoping for success!

And this is why I want a new job ...

For the past three and a half years, I've worked in a job that I love - mostly.  I love the people I work with; they are friendly, intelligent, and responsible.  They've put up with my mistakes, and pushed me to be a better worker each day.  I've loved the responsibilities; they've been varied to the point where I'm rarely doing the same thing two weeks in a row (if even two days in a row).  This job has allowed me to be creative and learn new skills - and forced me to do things I never would have dreamed I could do.  I love my boss; he's pushed me, supported me, encouraged me, and expected me to do my best.  He's broadened the way that I think and the way that I view things, to make me a better employee and a better person.

And now it is time for me to move on.  For quite a few reasons, actually.  Some more important than others, but all of them have played a part in my decision to leave.

• My responsibilities have changed.  The company I'm with has undergone a consolidation, or merger, this past year.  Most of my responsibilities have been parceled out to people "better designated" to do them.  And it makes sense, it really does.  Why should I plan the annual career fair, when we're gaining an entire Career Services department with the consolidation?  Why should I create all the event flyers when we're paying a graphic designer to do that?  It's all been whittled away; leaving me with only about 1-2 things that are mine.  I've done hardly 2 days work in the past two weeks - not because I'm lazy or because I don't want to.  Because there is nothing for me to do.  
• There's a lack of communication and promises being broken.  I had a promising job opportunity come up in December (it fell through), and I mentioned it to my boss to give him a heads up.  With the consolidation, he's no longer my boss, and has agreed to be a reference for me.  Next thing I know, my new boss (old boss's old boss) came in with promises that they are rearranging the organizational chart and moving me to a department-wide position.  The job title and pay would be the same, but I'd be reporting directly to the VP - giving me a nice boost on my resume.  The job fell through, but I didn't keep searching for another one, planning to give out the new position a try.  Two weeks ago a memo hit my desk (which is odd itself because our office never uses memos) with the new organizational chart.  Not only did they not put me where they promised, they actually moved me lower, so that I am on par with the temporary and student workers.  After not seeing or hearing from anyone for almost two months, I got that news through a memo.
• Essentially in the next few months I'll be moving offices, changing job responsibilities (to a glorified student worker), and changing co-workers.  It's a new job.  One that I didn't choose, and that I honestly don't want.
•  The hours are going to be ridiculous.  It's a student-oriented job; which means that I need to be available for the students.  Potentially, I could be expected to come in as early as 6 AM, and not expected to leave until midnight.  The position is salaried just so they don't have to pay extra for extra-long work weeks. 
• There is absolutely no room for growth.  The company has come out and said no raises or bonuses for the next 5-10 years.  There haven't been raises or bonuses in the 4 years I've worked here.  And with the consolidation, a new "pay scale" is being put in place.  You get paid based off your education.  There is a maximum that I can be paid with only a bachelor's degree.  If I got a masters, even if nothing else changed, I'd automatically in the system get bumped up the the next level of paygrade.  Which means it is actually impossible for me to move up in the office unless I go back to school.  While working salaried crazy hours.

I've reached a weird point in my job that if I stay any longer, it will actually be detrimental to me and any future job I might have.

So yes, I'm seriously looking for another job.  I'd leave tomorrow if I could.  (I'd actually quit if I could, but A. it's harder to find a job when you're unemployed, and B. I'm pretty sure you don't get unemployment if you quit - and we can't afford that right now.)

I've applied several places, and I'm still looking.  Hopefully I'll hear back from some of them and start going on interviews.  I'd like to have a new job by the summer.