You guys are amazingly supportive. Thank you. When my boss came in to day I told her that I was resigning. She said okay and turned around and walked out of my office. She came back 10 minutes later and asked me if I had a time frame. When I asked what she needed, she left again. Thirty minutes later she came back and asked why.

I have been telling her for 6 months that my part of the business has tripled in revenue and paperwork and that I can not keep up. I have outlined how she could add extra staff and increase the collection of funds even more ( I work in a billing office). She has literally laughed at me and said “You can do this. You can do anything”. I have worked 12 hour days that begin at 3:30 am since last September!

She literally implemented every change that I suggested in the course of 3 hours including moving 2 existing employees in to work in my area and then asked if I would stay...I declined.

I have a “vacation” scheduled starting this Friday for 10 days travelling with my son’s youth group to work on low income housing in Clovis, Ca for 10 days. We have been told that we will be working 12-14 hour days roofing and painting houses for those who would not otherwise be able to afford to maintain their homes. I return late on July 3rd and have an appointment scheduled with Mike “the hit-man” trainer on the 4th of July. My plan is to work with the new staff until July 13th and then come home for the summer. I could really use the time to finish up my masters degree, to hike some gorgeous trails in Oregon and to pamper my son and husband.

Oddly enough, Mike, my trainer, called 5 seconds after I resigned and my boss left my office. We hadn’t scheduled this week just yet. I was just sobbing when he called. Back and biceps were a good hard workout tonight because he is really good at bringing up the anger that I feel at work and getting me to put it all in motion. 45 minutes of intervals beforehand had me sweating so profusely that I had to take a shower before working out with Mike.

Today, I was VERY motivated to move.

I find it moving that you all care so much. I am REALLY going to miss you when I am out of town...don’t think I will be able to get to a computer. I am a little nervous about mot having scheduled workouts and food plans before I go. I shared somewhere on this forum that I dreamed that I gained 200 lbs on this trip and when I came home my trainer fired me as a client. Please keep me accountable to check back in...I hope to post as soon as I get back on July 3rd. But there is still time to enjoy your company until Friday.

Lisa

Very well done - I’m proud of the way you stayed with your values and resigned even thought your boss tried to convince you to stay.  The job wouldn’t have changed.  From reading your posts over the past few days it sounds like you made the right decision.  You deserve a job where you are appreciated before you resign, not after, and one that allows you to keep your values and take care of your family. 

working 12-14 hour days roofing and painting houses

You’re nervous about not having scheduled workouts, with 12 to 14 hours a day of hard labor scheduled???   You should be able to eat everything in sight and still lose weight with that schedule.  Remember to drink plenty of water while in California.  It’s hot and dry here.

Congratulations Lisa for stickiing to your guns!  It sounds like your boss didn’t appreciate what she had until she realized she was losing it.  Your “vacation” sounds great and could’t have come at a better time.  Helping others, spending time with your son, and getting activity in outside sounds like the perfect prescription for stress relief.  We’ll miss you too while you’re gone.  I look forward to hearing how the trip goes.  Take care!

Way to go Lisa, they will never learn, and only act when it’s to late. Enjoy the rest of your summer, the project with your son’s youth group sounds like a great use of your time and energy. Don’t worry you’ll be fine, you might not be able to post but we will be with you in spirit!

Lisa! I’m so glad you stood firm. Your boss - what a case! You were absolutely right not to change your mind when she made the changes. She obviously only acts when up against a wall. MAN is she going to miss you!

And as for your dream (nightmare!) that you gained 200 pounds on your trip - well, look at it this way - so long as you don’t actually gain 200 pounds, you’re doing better than your worst case scenario! Even if you gain 198 you’re still ahead!! Okay, maybe it shouldn’t be your goal to ONLY gain 198, but - point being - first, if you’re working 12-14 hour days, you’ll be burning some calories. Second, if you do gain weight, it’s not the end of the world, and I always find that “new” weight comes off faster than “old” weight, so you’ll be back in range again quickly.

So - CONGRATULATIONS on making such a huge and positive life change! You are awesome!!

I’m proud of you for not giving in when your boss asked you to stay!

During your time away, perhaps just keep thinking of yourself as a “healthy person” and play the part.

Totallyfit, I like that idea.  I can do that!

Tom Carlsbad inspired me to try a spinning class at the gym which I did for 1 hour of cardio tonight. I haven’t sweat that much in a VERY long time! It was fun and challenging and I look forward to doing it again!

Had a tense day at work as my boss refuses to accept my resignation--but I’m still leaving!

Your boss can’t refuse to accept your resignation! Argh!!! That’s ridiculous.

Don’t forget to drink lots of water to make up for all you’re sweating out!! You go, Lisa!

Great job on the spinning Lisa! Here is a good way to get your boss to let you go, ask for double the money! Stick to your guns!

Spinning Class sounds great.  One hour is pretty intense!!!  Way to go Lisa!!!

Hey Lisa!

I have now caught myself up on your thread and I must say that you are an amazing woman and I am very happy for you-- you have a son who you have a good relationship with, and a husband whom you adore. When all of this work stuff shakes off, you’ll feel even better. Even in the midst of this transitional period between working and soon not working, you’re still finding healthy ways to release your stress and tension, and that is amazing since it’s so much easier to wallow in bad emotions. I know you’ll have an amazing time with your son. Enjoy yourself and don’t be too hard on yourself about gaining weight on your trip. You’re simply nervous that you’ll undo all the work you’ve accomplished, but that’s not going to happen because you have all the tools to succeed-- you are a winner, and you are going to remain a winner.

Keep it up! 

Thanks, Mel. I think you are exactly right. I am looking forward to enjoying one of the last summers I have with my son before he goes off to college. I have found that weight training has been an incredible stress reliever. It is great to have a trainer who knows how to remind me of the tension of the day and then have me expend that energy in my workout. Every time I work out with him I leave feeling relaxed and laughing. He is an awesome trainer! Can’t wait to work with him today!

Enjoy your summer and you son! Your better off Lisa.

Lisa - when again is your last day at work? What a great day that will be!!!!

My last day is July 13th. Because of the 10 day trip, I wanted to give some actual work time as part of my notice.  I leave this friday morning ( and I am REALLY going to miss you all!) and come home late on the 3rd of July.  I already have training appointments schedules (would you believe the first is on July 4th?).

I did 45 minutes on the treadmill today and triceps, shoulders and chest with Mike.  I was realy tired today...i think it is because of the spinning class.  Or maybe it is because of resigning this week and finally feeling like I can let go a little.  At any rate, when i do mynext spinning class, I think I need to think about the timing a little more… I don’t want it to interefere with what I am already doing.

Great job on the workout Lisa,keep up the great work!

Hi Lisa!  I’m just dropping by to say thanks for welcoming me on my thread.  I just read all of yours and I have to say hats off to you for
making a positive move in your life.  I myself am so likely to remain in a bad situation because of fear.  Enjoy your trip and keep moving.

Suzanne

Hey, Lisa! How did today go?

Today was a BAAAAD day at work which gave me a great opportunity to let it all go while working out with my trainer. So after 30 minutes on the tread mill. I headed downstairs to meet him in the training area. He announced that we wouldn’t be using weights today and would try something fun and new on the racketball court.

He has a sick idea of fun and new.

The first exercise was to jog until he said stop and then squat, hold it for 10 seconds, squat and hold again for 10 for 10 times total ecept on the last one, he wanted me to hold for 20 seconds. I then stood up and ran again until he said to stop again. It was brutal.

That was the first of about 6 different “fun” things to do on a racquetball court. Thought I was gonna die! Truth be known, if I had died he would have resuscitated me and told me to continue. It was a great workout and I look forward to the continued fun and new when I get back. We agreed that I would call him next Thursday so that I could feel that I am being accountable for staying active and eating well while I am gone.

Which brings me to my trip. I leave tomorrow morning and, honestly, I am going to miss you guys! I have locked forward to hearing about your lives and how things are going for you. I enjosy meeting the new people who come to this website. It makes me sad to think that my little thread will be buried way back there when I return because I haven’t posted or that I will not be able to download my podcasts of MTM while I am gone. But I am going to keep a log of what I did, how I ate and how I felt while I am gone. Please help me stay accountable to you all by reporting in when I return. And I will return!

Ella, thanks for all of your encouragement. If Gill returns let her know that I missed her and will check in with her when I get back.

Shawn, I will truly miss your humor. You are a bright spot in my day.

Beth, I enjoy hearing how you are move your way through your day while caring for you family. I will miss patting you on the back.

Beetroot--You are a dynamo! You encourage me to want to do even more!

Tom--Thank you for being such a welcoming person. You are a real gift to this forum.

Totallyfit, thanks again for the suggestion of thinking like a healthy person. That helps a lot!

Mel--you keep moving. I am sorry that I am taking off soon after you arrived, but I will return!

Paula, I have share with you before that your story is very special to me. You are so persistent in ways that I am trying grow.

Thank ALL of you for being so supportive! I look forward to posting again on 7/03/2007!