IMMMMM BACKKK in the gameeee

Hey all!
   Zaftig is back in the gammmme. Here I am, returning from a long journey of having no time at all between grad school-teaching-leading 3 clubs at school-and welp, leaving little to no time for the gym. But guess what, it is Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish New Year. As I sit and ponder the important things that I would like for this year, there are many things that pop in my mind.
    Love, peace, happiness, and health are the top four categories that I wish for my family, friends, and myself. Let's revisit health-that is one of the most important things that we have.
   This week at school, I was greatly impacted by a fellow coworker who went to the hospital because of chest pains. The outcome of his sudden hospital visit was due to high blood pressure from salty foods and poor eating habits.
   Not only was I upset and worried about my colleague, but more importantly, it made me think about how valuable health is.
    Let's face it, ladies and gentleman, when we are so busy doing a million things, the last thing on our mind is what vegetable we can eat, what fruit we can enjoy, and how we can balance our meals. When we are on the go, we are thinking about the first available thing we can grab at a fast food restaurant, the next quick bite, and well, the famous, "No Gym for me this week, I just don't have the time". Dinnng dinnng...ringing any bells?
     So as I sit here and reflect on this game that I call life, the importance of tuning our bodies and minds, I think about friends, family, and myself. I wish that we all take care of ourselves by feeding our bodies with healthy things, rather than poor foods and drinks that can be detrimental to our health.
    La Shana Tova, Happy Jewish New Year, to both my friends that observe, my friends that don't, and anyone else that may be reading. I wish everyone the best as I continue my journey for self-discovery, self-confidence, and a better understanding of who I am.
   Remember, our lives are baseball games. We get a few strikes, maybe some foul balls before we are out. So make each pitch count, make each hit memorable, and hit a home-run until the referee calls the game.


Thanks for tuning in,
  I will be continuing to write more frequently!

Signing off,
The Zaftig

Sunday Blues

It is Sunday, and what does Sunday bring? You said it sista, the Sunday Blues. The weekend is over, the work week is about to get started, and we are left alone with our thoughts.
    Lets's talk reality, and step away from our dieting dos and do nots. Life is about a series of events, good, bad, and neutral. Some events change our lives, others keep us on a tracked path.
    As I continue my life, I seem to become overly busy, maybe even a bit overwhelmed. Teaching, taking graduate classes, leading two clubs at my school, and now being the student council faculty adviser, seems like I might have bitten off more than I can chew.
     As my Sunday night continues, and the clock ticks, closer to bedtime, closer to the morning; I wonder how I will balance my busy week. I look through my papers, look at my list of things to do, and it seems as though I have fallen into a deep ocean, and I need oxygen to  last until I get to the surface.
    Am I drowning in an ocean of work? Does it seem like I am the only fish in a deep abyss filled with sharks?
     This month of September brings a new year, a new start, and new events that will come my way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, and that swimming away from my responsibilities will allow me to get to the surface faster, I need to take it slow, one stroke at a time, until I am swimming alongside the sharks.

Signing off,
The Zaftig 

Chugga Chugga...Oops I fell off the train

    Zaftig here returning after a long train ride. You see, I was riding my train to a destination, a trip that would lead me to a lifetime of weight loss, but my train derailed and I fell off. We all know how hard it is to diet, and we can do so well, but from time to time, we have our challenges. And, well, I met my nemesis, my final match.
    Drinking alcohol and going out to dinner night after night has not served me well. In fact, I got on a ride to diet hell.
   So here I am, putting it all out there. I, The Zaftig, have taken a slight delay  off that train, but what happens when something does not go as planned? You reschedule...so tomorrow, Monday, September 12 my new train ride will arrive.
    I am getting back on that darn train and taking a sweet ride to diet heaven.
 Wish me luck,
Signing off,
The Zaftig

Back To School

    I WILL NOT DO MY HOMEWORK TONIGHT, are the words I hear as I drift into my sweet slumber,  The infamous "teacher nightmares" seem to return as we enter another school year. No matter how many years of experience we gain under our belt, it seems as though going back to school can be frightening and nerve-wrecking. We all have those well...what if this child acts out this year, or what if...
   But as the year begins, continues, and ends, it seems almost laughable at the fact that we felt this nerve wrecked for the year. Once we walk through the doors of the school, into our classes, and await on the smiling faces of our students, the worries seem to become eased. The first few days we are so busy running around, we almost forget to eat, and we become so consumed in our daily lives, that our diets seem to be "right on track".
   But what happens when we get into our comfortable routine...you guessed it. We start to snack, party with our students' birthday treats, and well, it seems that we continue to fall right back into our bad eating habits.
 But not this year for Miss Zatig! Watch out now kids. Make one less brownie this year, one less cookie, and one less piece of candy, because Miss Zaftig is holding out strong. Instead of, "Happy Birthday, sure I will have a piece of large cake to celebrate this joyous day with you," Miss Zaftig will be saying, "Oh no sweetie, I will pass; but thank you so much for offering and happy birthday." Well, ok maybe just once I will indulge.
  Happy NEW (school) Year!

Signing off,
The Zaftig