birdiesnest

Life Happens

2011-07-22T02:21:00.002-04:00

Has it really been two years??

Ahh, I remember those days...when I was strutting my stuff in a size 10.

Well, life happens.

Anti-depressants aren't kind to the waistline. Losing a family member doesn't exactly help either.

But it's been more than a year since I've been steadily climbing and not able to wear my old clothes. It sucks. I'm tired of it.

I started WW again at the beginning of the year. But I just couldn't find any excitement despite 0 point fruit. But I found the Couch to 5k program. And I've stuck to it. I'm up to a 5k now - slow as a turtle tromping through peanut butter, but I"m doing it.

I've always had a hard time combining the fitness with the healthy diet. I'm going to give it another try. Small goals - first off, fit nicely in those 12's again and lose 4 pounds before August 1. Let's see how this goes...

Long Time, No Post

2009-04-19T00:29:00.003-04:00

If you've been wondering about my long time absence, I've been a little busy. In the past month I've been to Hawaii, San Francisco & Sonoma & Vegas. More importantly, Vegas! Here's the best part of the month...I became Mrs. Joe Joe Bear!
YAY!

The Sober Up Post

2009-01-08T14:37:00.002-05:00

Literally. Before lunch we had our annual company toast to celebrate last year's success and to ring in the new year. Both require a shot of Goldschlager(yep, love my job). The girls and I went to lunch a little giggly and I think the waitress was bordering on clobbering us with the peppermill.

So, in other sobering news, I jumped on the scale for the first time in a month. I was expecting a 5 pound inflation, but was rather pleased with just 2. I'm gonna stick to staying off the scale on a weekly basis just to see how it goes. I like to keep myself in check, but I don't want to use a loss as an excuse to 'celebrate' either. It seems to be working for me.

I have also checked two friends with their 'fat talk' with the simple comeback of "hey, don't talk about my friend XXXX that way!". Seems to be a solid, thought-provoking, unexpected response. Too early to tell if the message is coming across though.

I've been looking for new recipes to try and change up the routine. I've recently become a huge fan of Korean food and have always loved everything Chinese. So I'm going to try making my own steamed dumplings this weekend. Although I'm taking a hint from a Korean friend and using wonton wrappers instead of making the dough. I'm not quite that adventurous yet. Making anything dough related scares the bejeezus out of me. A fear I'm working on conquering as evidenced by the Brie en Croute I made for the holidays this year. Even if I didn't make the dough, I still 'handled' it. Which is a giant step in the right direction.

If the dumplings turn out as planned, I'm hoping to make enough to get another meal out of it by way of dumpling soup.

And one last food mention, if you're not hungry enough after reading this post, I just found a way to make the classic PB&J even better. Why didn't I think of that??!

My New Year

2009-01-05T23:51:00.002-05:00

Starts tomorrow.

I'm officially back to work. No vacation to look forward to for quite a while. Back to the grind. Back to the gym. And back to the grocery store for the usual healthy fare.

I have YET to step on the scale since that post I made earlier last month. It's an accomplishment. Although at the same time, it's also denial about excessive celebration and consumption over the past two weeks. I'm gonna guess I'm up 5 pounds. Big deal. I'm not stressing over it. THAT is the real accomplishment.

I do have this thing called a wedding right around the corner that is going to give me a kick in the arse to get back on track. I'm not so concerned about losing weight for it though. I just want a taut tummy and nice arms to compliment a beautiful sleeveless dress. My plan is to concentrate on those areas with weights and pilates and continue the cardio to burn off any extra calories I consume on the weekends.

I've been reading so many posts about resolutions that I feel I must make mention of my own here. They have NOTHING to do with weight. And I don't feel like making a resolution about working out or being healthy because that is a constant goal for me. My new resolution this year is to learn to knit. I wanna make scarves and hats...and in a couple of years...baby clothes! :)

Hope that all of you are keeping up with your resolutions so far.

All You Need Is Love (and Vegas)

2008-12-30T23:10:00.004-05:00

Joe and I have been engaged for almost 2 years. So long that everyone either assumes we're already married or we'll never be.

Well...

Today I booked our tickets to Vegas in April. We'll be marrying it up Venetian style! I'm pretty excited about the whole idea and awfully damn relieved to have the pressure of planning a wedding lifted off my shoulders. I am such an obsessive perfectionist I knew it was going to be a nightmare for me. Now all I have to do is get my ass to the gym, find a pretty, simple dress and buy a ring for that man o mine.

We celebrated tonight with sushi. Our favorite food.

Come onnnnnnn Santa!

2008-12-24T13:48:00.002-05:00

So...What do santa's little helpers have when they're depressed?

Low Elf Esteem.

Merry Christmas, friends!

An Idea

2008-12-14T22:34:00.002-05:00

When I first started my weight loss journey, my goal was to lose enough weight so that I could have a healthy pregnancy.

Somewhere along the way, an unhealthy obsession with the scale took over what began as an honest attempt to get healthy. Over the past year I have come to realize that because of my weight loss, many of my female friends find this as a good lead-in for fat-related conversations. I have come to despise it. We are all smart and interesting ladies who can hardly seem to find anything to talk about than how much we gain on vacation, how much weight we need to lose by such and such date, or what body part we hate the most that day. And despite the fact that it's boring as hell, I personally think my self-esteem is feeling the effects of it. I completely stress out over gaining 2 pounds. I feel like I can't eat certain things in front of certain friends for they will judge me for it. How can this be healthy?

I know that participating in a weight-related goal 'program' only supports the thin is healthy ideal, but I do feel like I should be out of the overweight category with my bmi. I'm probably about 10 pounds from that point...but I am so over the number mind-set, I'm tinkering with the idea of chunking the scale altogether. It's just a thought at the moment...one worth thinking on for the next few days.

Searching the web today I found so much information on this topic and a video I would just love to send to all my friends. I thought maybe some of you would enjoy it too.

Hostess with the Mostest

2008-11-29T22:06:00.004-05:00

The countdown to the big event has begun!

Can't you all come to my party this weekend?

I'm making margaritas...with 1800 quervo, fresh squeezed lime juice, grand marnier and cointreu. I'm also making eggnog. It's now a tradition, and it's Paula Deen's recipe so you know it's good! If that's not your taste, you could also choose to have a glass or two of sangria, recipe complements of the bartender at Savilla in Grenwich Village. Goooood stuff!

The theme is Mexican, so I've decided to make a Fundido recipe that I found on Epicurious(cheese AND beer, how could it NOT be good?), roasted red pepper wraps, a mexican chicken casserole, mexican meatballs and of course a big bowl of fresh guacamole with chips - enough to feed 25. I'm skipping the veggie tray this year. Nobody ever touches it but me so I'll just be sure to eat my servings for lunch that day instead.

I'm also doing a brie en croute this year. Although it's not mexican, brie is always a crowd pleaser. And I'm hoping that the beautiful puff pastry casing will make it extra special.

If that hasn't tempted you enough, let me tell you about the dessert table. The cupcake tree will be filled with yummy delights from my favorite local bakery. You can also have your choice of lime meltaways, coconut balls or truffles. By popular request, there will also be peppermint bark and mud buddies hanging around.

I swore I was going to cater most of the event this year, but even with us having the cash to do it, I just get so much satisfaction out of doing everything myself. I will be absolutely exhuasted by Saturday, but it will be worth it.

So who needs directions?

mmmm...Sweet Potatoes!

2008-11-26T23:07:00.005-05:00

It's been so long since my last post with any content worth reading. I blame it on work. But now I have had five nice lazy days at home with my puppies and honey and I'm almost to the point of not knowing what to do with myself other than blog.

And I haven't yet taken a moment to revel in Obama's win. And I'm a liberal hippie and feel I must.

*WOOOOOOOOO!!!*

So anyway,

During my time off, I've managed to do a little shopping, put up my tree and make a nice mexican themed menu and grocery list for our annual christmas party we have for our friends. I can't believe it's just over a week away! Still have SO much to do! But I did the most important part tonight...decided on attire and placed an order for this scrumptous number from Ann Taylor Loft:

I think it'll be pretty cute with my knee high black boots. I'm excited about it.

As for Thanksgiving, we'll be celebrating the usual way. We always go to Joe's grandmother's for dinner. She loves my sweet potato souffle so much she specifically asked me to bring mine this year. And I love Grandma June, so the sweet potatoes are mashed awaiting oven time in the morning. I love them too, so you can bet I'll skip all of the casseroles and breads that just aren't worth it and have a heaping helping of my own dish instead.

I don't really have any game plan as far as eating goes tomorrow. I know I'll have more than I should and I've been preparing for that all week long. I have also joined the new gym in town and have been three times this week. I took a cycle class and a pilates class and I plan to go again on Friday, perhaps for more cycling if my ass can sit on the seat for an hour, for some damage control.

The scale hasn't been kind. But being in NYC for a week, I really didn't expect it to be all that great. I was up 4 pounds when I got home. I'm back down to a more reasonable 156-ish, but still 2 up from my low. I'm hoping that being at home for a while and the gym time will kick that 2 pounds in the butt!

I am thankful for so much this year...mainly that Joe and I have worked hard to cut our debt in half (and in hindsight the smartest thing we could've done to prepare for whatever will come from these tumultuous financial times) and are on track to finish paying off that debt next summer. You can bet we'll be planning an outrageous holiday to celebrate that zero balance - and without having to carry over a balance to do it. I am also thankful for the people who love me and all my wonderful friends, who gave me the best (surprise) birthday ever this year to celebrate my 35th. I am thankful that I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

Long time, no weigh in

2008-11-14T09:11:00.002-05:00

I'm on the road...have been for 2 weeks, and will be for another. And then it's thanksgiving. And then Christmas. The eating is non-stop from here on out...or is it?

I've been hanging on while I've been on the road, but man, is it hard! I'm just managing to hold steady. -.5 for the week.

New Favorite

2008-10-30T15:12:00.002-04:00

Easiest dinner ever:

1 cup multi-grain rice
1/2 can red kidney beans
1/3 cup weight watchers shredded mexican cheese blend
as much tabasco as you can stand

Totally filling. Unbelievably cheap. And only about 500 calories.

Pizza incident is but a distant memory now.

My weight isn't budging a whole lot this week thanks to said incident, but I'm only up about .5 and it's not Saturday yet. There's still hope.

On a side note, I'm sewing a halloween costume for my Joe tonight. Should be interesting seeing that I haven't sewn a 'garmet' since home ec class in high school. But I did remember how to fill a bobbin and thread the damn machine. It's a start!

poop!

2008-10-28T21:44:00.002-04:00

Damnit. Out of complete starvation I agreed to have Cici's pizza for dinner tonight. I feel like a bloated cow. I must've had at least a thousand calories with what I stuffed my face with. Yuck. And it wasn't even that good. I would've much rather had a big fat double hamburger at mcdonalds for half that.
Booo me.

So I had the guilt run tonight for a mile to burn some of it off. What else can you do but jump back on the wagon as soon as possible right?

Man, sushi would've been SO much better.

week 5

2008-10-25T11:20:00.002-04:00

Notice the lack of posts.

For me that typically means I have nothing exciting to report. It's been the same up on the weekend down during the week routine that I struggle with time and time again. Doesn't mean that I've given up though. I'm still fighting for every ounce. Although I'll admit, not as hard as I could be.

Hormonally this has been a challenging last few weeks for me. Long story short, I've been off my birth control pills for an entire month now (not voluntarily) and I'm a little bit of a mess. I'll be another mess for another month after I'm back on them, so the lesson is...never let an out of network obgyn write your prescription. Sigh. Hopefully by the holidays I'll be back to normal.

I've lost a pound this week - down to 154.4. My weigh is fluctuating between 154 and 156 consistantly, but I'm ready to see some new numbers. I'm going to set a moderate goal of another pound for next week. AND get back to the water habit.

Actually, I think I'll start it today instead of Monday.

Hope everyone is hanging in there! Just think how hot we'll all be in our holiday dresses. :)

week 2

2008-10-05T15:01:00.002-04:00

It's start of week three already, so it's time to let you all know that for week 2 I am down 1.2 pounds.

It's a loss, but it's bittersweet. After seeing 154 on the scale this week I was certain I'd have a 2 pound loss. But then after too much beer and wine since Wednesday, I am sitting at 155.4. Hopefully that just means 154 will come easier next week.

I gotta lay off the booze!

Total loss so far is 3.4 pounds. Short term goal: I can't wait to be on the other side of 155!

I'm still struggling get back to the gym so I took my birthday gift certificates and bought a Wii Fit today. I can't wait to use it and I'm hoping it will spark some new interest.

Hope you all had a great week!

Mid-Week Report

2008-10-01T15:44:00.002-04:00

Sorry for failing to blog this past weekend. It's just been busy busy at work and settling in from being on the road for 2 weeks.

The good news is that I did lose 2.2 pounds last week without even being at home! That's right, back down to 156.6. The weight I was before vacation, three weeks later.

And the even better news is that I peeked at the scale this morning and saw a NEW number. I've seen 155 before, although briefly. BUT This morning I saw 154.something. I was so excited I forgot what the number was after the decimal point!

I'll be weighing in on Saturday, so check back for the final official report.

Feelin' it

2008-09-23T22:48:00.002-04:00

I really feel like the Biggest Loser Challenge is exactly what I've been needing and I can't thank Angie enough for taking this on. I have a renewed excitement for getting on the scale this week, and I know that having all you guys to answer to is what will keep me on track day in and day out.

I have yet to journal my food today (about to when I finish this post), but I'm estimating 1400 calories again (tops). Started off with my faithful oatmeal breakfast, yogurt for a snack. I have finally gotten my hands on the apple turnover yoplait and if you haven't found it, go NOW and get it! Best yogurt ever!!!

I took a cue from a friend today and took a lunch to work consisting of bell peppers and turkey deli slices. I added 2 triangles of the good ol' laughing cow for good measure. PERFECT size lunch for me. And quite a change for me without any bad carbs to speak of. Ok, I admit, I had a 60-calorie Jello pudding for dessert. But still...not too bad!
I had sushi for dinner - mostly sashimi plus 10 pieces of sushi.

But the kicker for today is that I made myself get on the treadmill tonight. Just 30 minutes, and I mostly walked, but still, it's better than nothing. I've been letting the exercise slide lately. For the next three weeks I'll be back home (not on the road for work) so it will be easier to kick some gym ass. and boy, I plan to!

Just two more days here in Columbia, MO. Can't wait to get home, see my honey, my puppies, and get on the scale! :D

Fall = Chili

2008-09-22T23:01:00.002-04:00

This is one of the best chili recipes I have ever tried. I have used Guiness and New Castle for the beer it calls for in the recipe. Both are excellent. Poblano chilis are perfect for this if you want a rich, smoky flavor. I plan on cooking up a batch every weekend between now and the company chili cook-off next month at work. You know, just to practice. ;)

One serving = 380 calories without any toppings.
This recipe makes 8 servings.

FOR THE CHILI
3 ancho chiles (dried poblano chiles)
1 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 ounces pork (such as shoulder or chops), finely chopped
2 pounds boneless chuck steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large white onion, chopped (2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
Coarse salt
28 ounces whole peeled tomatoes, briefly pulsed in a blender
2 cans or bottles of beer (12 ounces each)
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

FOR THE TOPPINGS
4 ripe Hass avocados, halved lengthwise, pitted, flesh scooped whole from skin, and coated with fresh lemon juice
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
1 bag (20 ounces) salted corn tortilla chips
5 ounces sharp orange cheddar cheese, grated
Directions
Toast chiles in a skillet over medium heat, turning often, until fragrant and puffed up, 2 minutes. Cut in half; remove cores. Reserve seeds. Transfer chiles to a bowl; cover with boiling water. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork; cook until browned, 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Working in batches, cook beef until browned, 3 minutes per side, adding more oil as needed and transferring browned meat to the plate.

Meanwhile, put chiles and 1/2 cup soaking liquid into a blender; puree. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in cumin, oregano, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons reserved chile seeds (more for heat, if desired). Cook 1 minute. Add chile puree. Raise heat to medium-high; cook, stirring, 2 minutes.

Return meat to pot. Add 2 teaspoons salt, the tomatoes, and beer. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-high. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 1 1/4 hours. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring occasionally, until meat is tender and sauce is thick, about 30 minutes more. Discard bay leaf. Stir in vinegar. Serve chili with avocado halves, scallions, tortilla chips, and grated cheese.

Plans and such...

2008-09-22T20:20:00.002-04:00

So I've decided to stick with Sparkpeople to keep up with the food end of things. I've been pretty successful using it and I love having a 'free' way to keep up with my intake everyday. I journaled today for the first time in weeks. Around 1400 calories for the day. Not a bad start.

Return of the Motivation

2008-09-20T18:07:00.002-04:00

It's been two weeks since my vacation and I'm still up 2 pounds. But lucky for me, a new challenge has sparked my motivation.

I don't have a plan for how I am going to make this happen. I mean, I know how to do it, but I've become so bored with everything I've been doing for the past two years. I've thought about going back to weight watchers (where it all began), but then I thought about trying the Wendie plan, which is a variation of it. I've also thought that I should just keep on doing SparkPeople, since it did work for a few pounds this summer.

So my plan for the time being is to formulate a plan. I'm going to look back over my journals to see what worked.

To be continued...

Progress!

2008-08-04T14:37:00.007-04:00

These are the best two pics I can find of my 'before' self. Neither was taken at my heaviest weight, but they were both probably hovering at around 190-ish.

And lastly, taken Saturday just before heading out to a wine and cheese party, the now shot:

And hurray for my second pair of size 8 jeans!

Temperamental Mouse

2008-08-01T09:20:00.005-04:00

I just lost an entire blog due to the extremely sensitive forward/back buttons on the side of my mouse. Poo.

I will try to start over at the beginning...

I have no before/after pics for you yet, but I do have this super cute picture of me with my best friend (she is the one on the left, the one with ridiculous food/body issues, the one who has exercise binges and does the deprivation diets). We were heading out to a girl's night out sponsered by a local radio station here in Atlanta. She's got a Wonder Woman pose goin' on for the camera, and I'm just happy to be going out.

How cute we are!

Anyway, I haven't mentioned that I briefly saw 155 on the scale yesterday, and although I'm sitting at 156.0 this morning, I know that the glimpse of 155 means I'm on the 'lighter side' of 156. That just sounded completely ridiculous, but I know that you ladies know what I mean. ;)

I may not reach my goal of 145 by the cruise, but I am seriously ecstatic with where I am right now with my efforts. I'm even thinking that after I get back from my cruise, after I post my swimsuit edition here, I am kicking the scale habit like so many have before me. I feel like the only reason I'm clinging to it now is because I set a goal and I haven't reached it yet. I feel like if I get rid of my scale now, I'd be giving up on that goal, make sense?

All I know is that today, my only goal is to look as smokin' hot as Thick Chick does in her favorite jeans. Mercy!

Ok, since I'm bored at work and I haven't done one of these in a while...

5 things found in my purse:
actually, it’s a backpack these days due to all of my traveling for work:
*Laptop
*Bluetooth mouse
*Passport
*advil
*a blister band-aid

5 things found in my bedroom:
*An empty ream of paper box that my Jack Russell uses to launch herself onto the bed
*The Other Boyelyn Girl on my nightstand
*A freshly unpacked suitcase
*Dry cleaning hanging on the closet door
*Random jewelry on the dresser

5 things I have always wanted to do:
*Be a super cool singer/songwriter
*Take ballroom dancing and yoga
*Learn to sew and knit
*Paint like my mother
*Have a big garden

5 things I am currently into:
*Getting ready for my cruise
*My getting-sexier-every-day arm muscles
*Tofu stir fry
*That book on my nightstand
*Playing Risk II on my pc

Yanked to White Plains

2008-07-30T09:02:00.002-04:00

I love it when I'm given notice on a Friday that I'll be going out of town on business the following Monday - LOVE IT. Especially when it's White Plains, NY. UGH!

I think if I went the rest of my life without going there again, it would be equivalent to winning the lottery. Difficult client, to say the least. We're sent on a mission trip and expecting the building to be in flames when we arrive from the sound of it, but it was quite the opposite. They just have a crappy system administrator without a spine required to do his job. I think it's time we fired this client.

Ok, vent is over. Now on to the stuff you really care about. You have requested before/after pics and I promise they're on the way to ya. I found the 'before', just gotta take a good 'after' shot. I'll get that up for you guys this week. I'm kinda looking forward to seeing the difference myself!

So even though I was in White Plains eating on an expense account, I managed to hold steady for the week AND get in a couple of good workouts by Sunday. I didn't journal all week, which is a first for me since April, but I still managed to make super awesome choices even when the boys (aka my coworkers) were eating the cheese fries from Outback right in front of me. Bastards!

I'm back home this week and clinging to the hope to see a new number on the scale this Friday. I've been strength training consistently and hard for over a month now and I'm finding the process of making muscles fascinating! I think Joe might be a little sick of the daily "check out my muscles" requests though. Sorry, honey. :D
But every week I feel new definition in my thighs, arms and butt - it's so exciting!! Notice I didn't say abs though. I admit to not giving them enough attention, but it's not as though I've been completely neglecting them either. Does it just take forever to see results there or what?

Side note: 30 days til vacation!! Not that I'm counting or anything. ;)

Attack of the 50 lb Lighter Woman

2008-07-16T09:30:00.007-04:00

How on earth could I have forgotten?!

I cruised right past 156 without even realizing that when I started this whole thing, I was 206. I've reached a huge milestone this week:

Yep, that's pounds lost.

I remember when I started this how the thought of losing 50 pounds seemed near impossible. The only way I could get around it was to NOT think about it. And now, two years later, I'm there!

10 more to go.

Somebody pass the biofreeze

2008-07-15T08:44:00.002-04:00

I cranked up the incline on the treadmill yesterday at the gym.

Ouchie. :(

I've been focusing more on my arm work lately and it's amazing how fast you see results! The tricep jiggle is minimal today and it's so motivating to keep it up.

I think I may be in for another good loss this week although it is rather too early to tell. And by good loss I mean a pound. It's almost impossible for me to lose more than that a week without starving or spending every waking minute I'm not at work on the treadmill. I'm just happy that I'm actually losing again.

OH! And I'm wearing shorts today. To the office. I KNOW!!! But dangit, I've worked hard for cute legs. I'm gonna show 'em off!

Ok, have a great week. I'm off to book a massage.

Hallelujah!

2008-07-11T08:54:00.002-04:00

The 157 streak has finally been broken. The scale reads 156. Even. No point anything.

I'm gonna keep plugging along at this sparkpeople thing. Turns out, I do a pretty lousy job at planning my own meals.

The best part of today though is that it's Friday! It's been a hell of a week at work. About a month ago, I drew the short straw (without even knowing) and was assigned to a difficult client to go and 'fix'. An upgrade to their latest version didn't seem to fix the problems they were expecting to be fixed. AND it caused some other issues that didn't exist before the upgrade. *&#$*! So I've been dealing with upgrade fallout all week on top of having to learn how to install a reporting module for them. At this point in my job, everything is a learning process. It will be so nice to finally be here long enough that I'm not having to learn something new everyday just to do my job.

I really do love my job on most days, but man, I cannot wait for vacation!

For now, the weekend will have to do. And I will be keeping to the plan in hopes that next week another new number appears. Oh how I would love to be in the single digits of pounds left to lose!

52 days!

2008-07-09T22:50:00.002-04:00

52 days until the boat leaves the port.

52 days until my 35th birthday (huh? how the hell could that even be possible?? even if my slowing metabolism and coarsened peach fuzz declare that it must be so??!)

52 days until I wear a bathing suit while I strike the best skinny pose I can for the camera.

And post it here for the world to see!

If you recall back some time ago, I took that challenge to post a bathing suit pic after I return from the cruise September 6. I'm still holding to it. I predict you will all be on the edge of your seats, refreshing my blog at light speed in anticipation of the grand event that day.

Especially any lurking, pervy ex-boyfriends who will just have to settle for me being *somewhat* clothed. Ahem.

Dear lord baby jesus. What have I done.

Sneak Peak

2008-07-08T10:44:00.002-04:00

I couldn't help myself from a quick peek at the scale this morning and I am pleased to see 157.6 after the weekend. That's a darn good setup for my official weigh in on Friday. How cool (however unlikely) would it be to skip the 156 altogether??! Not getting my hopes up or anything. I seem to be concreted to this 157.6 number. But Friday is four days away...

This is what I'm munchin' on today:

BREAKFAST

Calories
Instant, Quick, and Regular Oats Cereal, 0.75 cup, cooked 104
Instant, Quick, and Regular Oats Cereal, 0.75 cup, cooked 104
Bread, reduced-calorie, wheat, 2 slice 91
Jams, preserves, jelly, 1 tbsp 56
Peanut Butter, smooth style, 0.5 tbsp 47

401

LUNCH
Celery, raw, 2 stalk, large (11"-12" long) 20
Tuna, Canned in Water, 0.5 can 96
Bread, pita, whole-wheat, 1 pita, small (4" dia) 74
Popcorn, air-popped, 2.5 cup 76
Kraft Mayo Fat Free Mayonnaise Salad Dressing, 2 tbsp 22

289

DINNER
Yellow Sweet Corn, Canned, 0.2 cup 27
Yellow Sweet Corn, Canned, 0.2 cup 27
Beans, black, 0.5 cup 114
Cottage Cheese, Nonfat, 0.75 cup (not packed) 92
Brown Rice, long grain, 0.5 cup 108
Brown Rice, long grain, 0.5 cup 108

476

SNACK
Strawberries, fresh, 1 cup, halves 46
Yoplait Yogurt Light Fat-Free - Peach (6 0z), 1 serving 100

146

Total = 1312

Fitness Fourth

2008-07-06T22:07:00.003-04:00

I failed to see 156 this past week. Boooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Despite my solid efforts, and a huge disappointment, I didn't let it get me down. I turned my long 3-day weekend into a fitness fest. Instead of watching the Braves game on the couch, I drove to the gym at work and watched it from the treadmill. I pushed myself through some hard hittin' strength training (leg presses and pull ups) and although I am suffering from it today, it was SO worth it! I took today off to do some yardwork, but in terms of my meals, I've been pretty great all weekend.

I took my measurements this weekend and I was shocked to see a 1.5" loss in my waist and a 1" loss in my hips in a month. But is that even possible having lost only a few pounds??

In a ditch effort to get these last nagging pounds off, I signed up for the infamous SparkPeople pages. Although I've been journaling my food since May, I love that I can get more accurate counts, keep up with my water intake with a click, and get meal ideas. I'm so bored of the same old thing everyday. I have 8 weeks to lose the 12 pounds. It can still happen. I'm not giving up.
Another inch in the waist and hips is my other goal.

And it will be the best 35th birthday present I could give myself.

women and weight

2008-06-27T14:03:00.002-04:00

So I have this friend who told me a long time ago that she doesn't want to discuss weight loss with anyone unless she herself is skinny. So I've abided by her wishes. I don't talk about my successes unless she brings it up (I share with you guys instead!). But the more I've thought about it, the more I realize how selfish she is - because now, four months before a cruise that she booked - she's suddenly in "must lose 40 pounds in 4 months mode" and wants to brag about every pound she loses! Being a braggart is my main pet peeve as far as friends go. A woman who constantly feels that she must be in competition with me is my second. I'm starting to rethink this entire friendship altogether...

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for her that she's finally found something to make her want to finally get control over her eating. Even if it is a completely superficial reason, in the end she will be healthier for it. I've warned her against losing too quickly. For someone who's read every weight loss book ever printed, you'd think she'd know this by now.

But no. She goes back to her deprevation and restrictive dieting on South Beach (and eats Ricotta cheese all day) and back to her treadmill bingeing. Whatever works, right?

Sigh.

The problem is...and we all know this...it doesn't work! She'll be over it in a few months. Perhaps she will make it until she gets home from the cruise, but as soon as the motivation of the cruise is gone, so will be the results of all of her efforts. She is as stubborn as the day is long when I try to give her advice. It's her way or the highway. South Beach has worked for her in the short term. And like any 'diet', it stops working when you stop following it. She's made fun of me for the whole Weight Watchers "not a diet" campaign arguing that if you can't eat what you want all the time, it's a diet. I stress to her that switching your focus to less restriction with portion control is key. But I can't win with her. The only argument I hold is the final proof: that I've lost 50 pounds over two years with gradual changes and have kept it off. She has gained.

Do any of you guys have friends like this? I just don't know how to handle it anymore. Especially now that she's in her diet mode and wants to talk about it ALL the time. At least when she's eating everything under the moon, I don't have to have the discussions.

Anyway, I found a great quote today I would love to email to her (and might just yet):

"If you can't see yourself eating or exercising a certain way for the rest of your life — say, consuming raw food and running five miles every day — you shouldn't be doing it to lose weight in the first place"

LOVE it!

Bad at multitasking

2008-06-23T16:45:00.003-04:00

Another boring check-in post. Too keep myself accountable, ya know?

I had a blah week last week. No Subway or McDonalds near the client site, so I ate too much sashimi and sushi instead. I am pretty much the same weight as last week. And so another week goes by...one week closer to the cruise and still stuck at 157.

It seems that I can only focus on one thing at a time these days. Either I'm eating perfectly OR excercising hard. But for some reason I have a hard time doing both at the same time.

Lately it's been the workouts that have slipped. So I got my butt in gear last night, tied up the laces, and hit the pavement. I bought some 8 pound weights for my arm reps (I was up to 24 reps with the 5 lbs - which is pretty much useless for building muscle). I plan to break them in tonight.

Turns out, I'm in town all week long, which should be a good thing for my eating AND exercising. I'm aiming to see 156 this week.

Here's what's on the menu today to get to that goal:

15 Coffee & half & half
40 Egg Beater
10 Tsp Salsa
100 Whole Grain English Muffin

130 Soy Nut Mix

160 Tomato Vegetable Soup
75 Salad with Feta Cheese, Olives and no dressing

160 24 Almonds

60 3oz Mango
90 2oz Avocado
30 8oz Romaine
70 2 Tbsp Sun Dried Tomato Vinegarette Dressing

150 1/2 Cup Weight Watchers Cheese Shreds
160 2 Tortillas

60 Jello Pudding
_______________

1320 Calories

Life on the road

2008-06-14T16:36:00.002-04:00

I had my first adventure on the road by myself this week for work. The work part started horribly Monday having spent an hour sitting on the runway for a 1pm flight to Richmond that was eventually cancelled. The next one wouldn't be leaving until 9am the next morning. Luckily, I got on a stand-by to Norfolk leaving at 7pm and drove to Richmond. I finally reached my destination just before midnight. The next day would become a series of IT problems, making my day of training miserable. Finally, on Wednesday, things started shaping up and the week ended on a positive note - and an on-time flight for the trip home.

Eating on the road is a challenge. It's extremely hard to plan your meals, but I was able to count on the trusty McDonald's Southwest salads in a pinch. I loaded up on snacks at the convenience store Monday night - some almonds, apples with yogurt dip, a garden salad (that I ate for dinner) and some veggie crisps. Those certainly deterred me from calling in a late night pizza order and raiding the hotel vending machines. I continued to journal my food all week making the best estimations I could. When I wasn't sure, I calculated meals on the high side just to be safe. I was starving Wednesday evening after not eating enough on Monday and Tuesday. My body fights back with anything less than 1300 calories a day. So I treated myself with some wine and dessert with dinner. My only real 'cheats' all week. I can't even remember the last time I ordered dessert in a restaurant. But I managed to eat only half and it was delicious and well worth it. No regrets there. My one regret is not making it to the gym a single time during the week. The one night I was able to, I was sidetracked...read on....

The best part of my trip was finding this awesome mall in Willow Grove, PA on the day of Macy's one day sale this week. I found these unbelievable trouser jeans by Nine West for only $20. I was paying for them and when the lady at the counter pulled them up to fold them, the girl checking out at the register beside me looked me up and down and said, "those look way too big for you!". When I tried them on, I did have some extra room in them, but for whatever reason, it didn't even occur to me that I could fit in anything less than a size 10. But hearing her say that made me wonder. So, I left the counter, returned to the rack, found the size 8's and tried them on. And I'll be damned - she was right. I walked out with an EIGHT, people!! My first size eight jeans that I have bought in my entire adult life!!!!!

Which brings me to another point. I am really struggling with clothes right now, because it seems that I can't see myself as anything but a double digit wearer. Even my bra that I just bought a few weeks ago is too big in the cup size. Now, to my defense, it does have very molded cups, so even though it doesn't fit, it still looks like it does. But I realized this week that I don't even begin to fill out the cups anymore. Sure enough, when I tried on new bras at Macy's, I was an entire cup size smaller. And I'm embarrassed to admit that I bought a 12 petite in a pair of pants (petities always run smaller, so I'm thinking equivalent to a 10 regular, right?), wore them back on the plane Friday only to be able to take them off without unzipping them when I got home that evening. *sigh* It's delightful and frustrating at the same time.

All said and done, I'm happy to report a loss this week. 157 for the week. Down about a pound. 12 more to go to my goal before the cruise leaves August 30th. This is definitely possible. :D

Vacation...SHORT(s)!

2008-05-27T20:55:00.003-04:00

One day of leisure before I have to suck it up and return to the ball and chain that is my desk and email.

*sigh*

But going back to the grind is always a good thing for me. My routines go out the window with no schedule to wrap them around and although I've only had one episode of all-out frivolity (yes, that means too many calories consumed by way of wine glass) since Friday, I know that I won't be seeing a loss when I get on the scale Friday morning. I'm aiming for a maintain.

I got a few miles in this extended holiday weekend on top of buying that fitness ball and....
running shorts!

There goes the neighborhood.

I haven't worn shorts since around 1998. I hate the way they ride up from my thighs rubbing together and I always end up walking like a cowgirl to prevent that from happening. Well, they still ride up. I have thighs. Always have, except for a brief moment around 140 when I was taking a fitness credit ballet class in college. But I have to find a way to continue running in this humid Georgia climate, so I found myself in Target trying on shorts Saturday. Not as horrible of an experience as I imagined it would be. Even the clothed view from the rear wasn't especially horrifying. Hurray!

Tomorrow I will end my vacation with a trip to the Farmer's Market with Joe to buy a few nice cheeses for a dinner we're hosting Saturday night and maybe pick up some in-season produce - whatever looks good. My goal of eating more fruit would certainly be more easily acheived if I actually bought some. Can't wait to see what I come home with!

Catch up with you all on the other side (the work side, that is).

Helloooooooooo 150's! (part II)

2008-05-23T09:53:00.002-04:00

Yo silly, elusive number on the scale!
I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!

158.8

2 pounds lost this week!
Take that, pesky 160's.

The secret to my success this week has no doubt been the continued journaling of every bite of food during the week in my spiral notebook. Here's what else I improved on from last week:

1. Measured most everything. (I feel that measuring peanut butter is more trouble than it's worth. Can I get an amen?)

2. Ate a 1/2 banana every morning. That's more fruit in a day than I got at all last week. It's a start.

3. My workout tomorrow will put me at my (silent) goal of 4 workouts this week.

4. I have included the strength training routines after my runs twice this week.

5. Looking back over my food journal, I don't see too many huge setbacks. This is mainly due to my lack of journaling over the weekend. I will admit, Saturday was pretty rough: I had 4 or 5 beers at the lake. That doesn't even include the nibbles of junk here and there throughout the day. The purchase of a large bag of Doritos "for Joe" on Sunday wasn't the best idea I've had, but I managed to hold it down to a serving and a half the entire week. AND they're the hotwing/blue cheese combos. GOOD lordamercy tasty!

6. I substituted healthier side dishes with my dinners every night. Tons of veggies instead of something starchy.

7. I just realized that this 'clean out the pantry' project I've been on for almost a month now has discouraged my snack intake (since there are no snacks around to be eaten). And to be honest, I'm hardly missing the 100-cal packs and puddings! That's huge for me. I think I'll just skip that aisle at the grocery store when I finally go this weekend.

THINGS I CAN DO BETTER NEXT WEEK

1. More fruit, more fruit, more fruit. Otherwise, I feel my diet right now is pretty stellar! Wow, I can't believe I can say that!

2. Eh, what's one more workout gonna hurt. I am DYING to sign up for a yoga class or a gym. I need something new, but money is tight for now. So on the to-do list, I think I'll buy that exercise ball I've been wanting for ages. Way cheaper than yoga class.

3. Enjoy my vacation and time away from work! (without finding myself back in the 160's next week)

Happy Memorial Day!

Favorite Finds

2008-05-21T21:10:00.004-04:00

I can't believe I've had 20 packs of these in my pantry since January and I'm just now trying them!

These have surged ahead of the competition in the race for my favorite afternoon (or sometimes morning) snack. They're perfectly sweet and salty, really fill me up and keep me from pantry raiding when I come through the back door at 5:17. I thought I would have to resort to hiding the last few bags from Joe or challenge him to a duel if he tried to take them. Lucikly, the shipment arrived today to replenish our stock and has likely saved our engagement.

These perfectly sized bags of soy nut mix Crum Creek's Brilliantly Blended Soy Nut Mix are:

Organic
High in fiber
High in protein
Just 6 net grams of carbohydrates per serving
Conveniently packaged in 10 single-serving packs(1 oz. each)
Trans fat and cholesterol-free
Kosher
Vegan

Soy Nut Mix Ingredients:
Organic Non-GMO Soy Nuts, Organic Chocolate Chips (organic cane sugar, organic chocolate liquor, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla beans, soy lecithin), Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Raisins, Expeller-pressed Canola Oil, Sea Salt.

130 calories per bag or 2 points.

You can order them here individually or as I prefer, in the Hungry Girl Super Snack Duo containing soy bites and soy nut mix. 12 bags of soy bites, 20 bags of soy nut mixes all for $20 including shipping.

Reminder to Self

2008-05-19T20:53:00.002-04:00

For later this week when I am finding any excuse to not workout:

DO IT!
YOU'LL FEEL BETTER!
NO. YOU'LL FEEL AMAZINGLY AWESOME!
YOU'LL FEEL STRONG!
YOU'LL THINK CLEARER!
YOU'LL SLEEP BETTER!
YOU'LL BE CLOSER TO YOUR GOAL ON THAT CRUISE SHIP!
YOU'LL BE A HOTTIE!

Now get off your ass, future me. Feel as good as you do right now!

yeah yeah

2008-05-16T09:53:00.002-04:00

Steady at 160.8 this morning. (I was 160.0 yesterday morning - Again I say, stupid scale!)

I imagine the demolishing of tuna salad AFTER dinner last night did not help. I had only eaten 400 calories by the time dinner was on my plate, so I was famished. Not a good plan.

Ah well. I still feel back on track. Still writing everything down. Trying to workout as much as possible, including strength training additions to my runs this week. I found the perfect circuit training set in a Fitness magazine that kicked my butt with squat/dumbell combos and planks.

Looking back over my food journal for the week, here are my observations:

I desperately need to buy groceries. This 'emptying the pantry' mission is starting to limit my healthy eating options.
I'm averaging around 1400 calories a day. I think. See next bullet point.
I'm still not measuring exact sizes. I'm eyeballing. This is something I need to work on next week.
The lack of fruit appearing on these pages is appaling. The grocery excursion will definitely need to include a selection of 'new' fruits I haven't had in a while - grapes and bananas might be good. Perhaps a smoothie for breakfast will help with the fruit intake. Any other ideas out there?
I need to ditch the pretzel snack I go for at around 3pm and go back to nuts or a Fiber One bar instead. Those wasabi almonds are really calling my name.
Clearly, I love vegetables. But I tend to think of them as free foods that I don't have to measure. Do I really need to?

So the goal for next week is to incorporate these into my food plan AND be in the 150's by next Friday. I'm gonna kick me some 160's ass next week!

On a side note, taking our puppies to the lake tomorrow. It's their first time (that we know of) being in water. Should be a blast!

old school

2008-05-14T15:54:00.002-04:00

I've figured out what to do. Desperate times...

I'm going old school and journaling my food & activity in a little spiral notebook...

And it's working!!!

It's been since last November since I've really, seriously, truly journaled everything. I'm always conscious of my choices, but sometimes you do forget and underestimate what you've eaten throughout the day. I like to blame that on a combination of my thirty-something year old memory and ADD - but placing blame certainly doesn't help the case of my fifty-something year old looking ass.

Joe and I have booked a cruise to Mexico leaving August 30. What a perfect time to start a new goal - for my 35th birthday! And this, my friends, will be my last scale-related goal. After I reach the 145 mark, I plan to stick to fitness goals and measurements. I don't want to be obsessed with the scale anymore. I feel chained to it.

But don't worry. That doesn't mean I'll let go of it all. Oh hell no. I love my newly purchased size 10 jeans (or maybe an 8 when I'm finished)! The exercise is now a part of my lifestyle. And I love having legs that I'm kinda proud of for the first time EVA in my life! The scale hasn't budged for me in a few months now, but my body still has. So I feel confident in declaring 145 as the stopping point. It's practical and healthy for my height and frame. I graduated high school close to 170 - so suffice it to say, I've never been skinny. I wasn't born skinny. I don't care if I ever AM skinny. I just want to FEEL good.

I love to pieces how some of you have posted your bikini pics. I'm jumping on the bandwagon and embracing my body! I plan to have one for the cruise and of course I'll also have a camera in hand. No better time than then, right?

So expect to see me in all my dimply glory on September 8th. Mark your calendars!!

Off My Ass

2008-05-02T10:44:00.002-04:00

The motivation is slowly dwendling. I can feel it.
It's been 2 weeks since my last run.
It's been 2 weeks since my last loss.
The last loss was a desperate attempt to lose some of the 4 pounds I've gained.

I need a kick in the butt.

I need a plan. I need a new plan. The old plan is no longer working.

I have but 15 pounds left to lose. I've been sitting at this number on the scale for pretty much the entire year. I'm ready to be DONE with it.

*sigh*

Just when I thought it was over...

2008-03-23T17:32:00.003-04:00

So I managed to finish up bootcamp and lo and behold, there's MORE training before I'm finished. I don't think it ever ends, but it's starting to really stress me out - the testing and testing and testing. And for really, in the grand scheme of things, for not a whole lot more than I was bring home ($) before. *sigh*

I want my normal life back.

I miss reading all of your blogs and I can't even begin to catch up on all of you in the few minutes I have during the week. So here is where I tell you all who might be reading - that I hope you are all doing well and keeping up with your goals. AND having a Happy Easter if you celebrate it. I don't, but the easter bunny managed to visit Walgreen's yesterday and bring me chocolate this morning. Cadbury...mmmmm!!!

As for the rest of life, the stress is great for weight loss. I've dropped like 4 pounds in the past two weeks without even really trying. I'm almost at my goal I set for last week and I'm in the 150's for the first time in maybe a decade! 12's are starting to be a little big on me. I'm still running/walking, logging the miles. It's really the only way I can stay sane with the workload.
I'd be on prescription meds for sure if I didn't.

Shoutout to everyone reading!!!
Until next time I can spare 5 minutes...
xoxo

The End is in Sight!

2008-02-23T16:04:00.002-05:00

The last week of boot camp is finally here!
As of Wednesday around noon I will be completely finished with my final examinations, manager reviews and hardware challenge. It has been exhausting and I'm struggling to fight off a cold this weekend likely induced by all the stress.

I've lost a little more than 5 pounds since class started, so I'm quite proud of that too. I'm down to 161.2 this week and I can't tell you how nice it's going to be to see the 150's on that scale!!

I should be back around more regularly after next week. I miss you guys and the support I get from you all. Hope everyone is well & happy!
xo

Week 1: Complete!

2008-01-26T17:46:00.000-05:00

I have survived week 1 of work boot camp.
Holy hell.

My manager asked me last night (while we were all celebrating at the local pub by getting completely trashed) what the biggest surprise of the class has been so far.

My answer: crying after the 4th day.

It's true. At the end of each day, there is a quiz, and for the second day in a row on Wednesday, my grade was not a fair reflection of how well I understood the material. I only scored 80% because I either overthought the questions or misunderstood them. And it would be different if I didn't get the concepts. At least then I could ask for help.

So, I went home, cried, slept, ate a large serving of comfort food and did my best to shake it off. The next day I made sure not to assume anything about any of the quiz questions. I asked for clarification, and lo and behold I scored 99.83 - the highest grade in the class. My strategy continued to pay off on yesterday's database quiz - my first 100%!!!! (to the dismay of my lower scoring Georgia Tech graduate neighbors who had just took this college course and commented on how easy the test was going to be - heehee! select statement THIS, bitches!)

Ok, I realize this isn't exactly a weight loss related post, so I will end with an update on that front. In spite of grueling 10 hour days, I forced myself to get out of bed at 5:30 twice this week to get in a workout. That, my friends, is just a plain out miracle. This girl NEVER gets up before the sun. But I did, and honestly, it wasn't all that bad. I may just do it again this week since it's too cold now for my usual outside run when I get home at 7pm.

And last but not least, I saw a nice loss of 1.8 pounds this week. That was Wednesday's weigh-in - and it already looks like I'll be having a nice loss next week as well - crossing my fingers!
Finally, the holiday pounds are gone and I'm seeing numbers not yet seen since 2003! Feels so good.

Hope you all are having fantastic weekends!!

My solution to the girl's night dilemma

2008-01-18T17:51:00.000-05:00

So, first off, I didn't mean to keep you all in suspense this morning about girl's night. The boot camp that I have mentioned before - and let me clarify is work related and does not in any way involve circuit training or exercise - started today and I've been away from my usual desk. I will be for the next 6 weeks, making blogging anywhere but home nearly impossible. Hence, the abbreviated post this morning regarding my weigh in.

As for girl's night, I did end up going. I didn't have time to make anything to bring, so I just ate a normal dinner beforehand. Luckily, I had some dental work done earlier that day, so I used that as an excuse (not completely a lie) for the tiny portions I took. But it was still not pretty. A handful of regular white grain pasta with pesto, three slices of baguette with brie, three glasses of wine (which I had planned for) and the worst of all - the creme brulee. I only eat ate half the ramekin, but at 11 points for the entire serving, even a bite was dangerous! I ended up logging 40 points for my day yesterday. No doubt part of the reason for my .2 gain today, but good thing I'd saved my flex points!

And I've made up my mind that the particular girl hosting this event is a diet saboteur. Do any of you have friends like this? I couldn't believe that she was judging another girl there (psst...she's new to the blog world. give her a little hello if you have a chance) for still being hungry after she was the one who made a meal that could go down in the 'weight watcher's worst nightmare cookbook'. Even worse, she went so far as to point out the light version of the creme brulee in her cookbook. Ummmm, hello?! Did it not occur to her that would have been a better choice in respect to her guests?! I'm a little baffled by it. I always consider other people's needs, especially when I'm the host. Am I wrong in thinking this way??

F!

2008-01-18T09:07:00.000-05:00

I had decided to weigh in today, but I should've stuck with my official weigh in day of Wednesday instead. I'm actually UP .2 from last week. I'm really in disbelief considering how good I've been all week and how many chances to be bad I've said NO to.

I have to just trust that my efforts will show up eventually.

For this week, it's 166.4.

Blah.

Girl's Night Dilemma

2008-01-17T10:54:00.000-05:00

So tonight is girl's night hosted at the super skinny girl's house. I hear she's making creme brulee. There will also be brie. And the other three of us are either on weight watchers or being mindful of what we eat.

I think it's completely thoughtless of her and I'm thinking about just bringing my own food to eat. Would it be rude? Or should I just not go?

Sunday 6

2008-01-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

Swizzle's Sunday 7 is responsible for this impromptu post that sums up my weekend in a list of 6 little tasty niblets (see also - too lazy to type complete paragraphs - I don't know how Randi does her novelas!):

The Christmas Tree is finally in the attic! Only 330-something days...
Sweeney Todd just may be my favorite movie ever. Who knew throats being slit could be so damn hilarious?!?
It's Sunday night and my house is clean. *insert sounds of angels singing*
The peanut M&Ms from my christmas stocking are officially GONE.
Hopefully the 7 miles I managed to get in since Friday will help offset the damage caused by accomplishing #4. Heh.
Tomorrow is my last Monday before the work-related 'boot camp' starts. In about 50 days from now, I will have a life again.

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

166.2

2008-01-11T23:05:00.000-05:00

Is the number.

A couple of pounds worth of christmas joy. Eh, it'll be gone shortly.

Anyway, some new finds:

Shape Magazine's 20-minute playlists
my shuffle is dying for some new tunes!

Phytokarite Ultra Nourishing Mask - Ultra Dry Hair
a small sample has made me a huge fan of this miracle for thick, colored hair like mine.
It makes my hair like silk!

Quiznos
just recently came clean with their nutritional information, turns out the cup of chili and a side salad = a pretty good quick meal for only 2 points! Yay!

Now, I'm off to download those new tunes!

A New Year

2008-01-10T22:12:00.000-05:00

This official first week back from the holidays has been exhausting!

First, Let me back up and say that my holidays were amazing, ending with the big 'ol beach bash at St. Pete. I had an awesomely cute dress that I punked out with some black tights and black ankle boots - hot! And most of the pics I've seen of me from all angles don't make me want to photoshop them. Especially this one:

And we really were having that much fun!

But it's good to be back in the swing of things. I've been so busy training my replacement that I haven't had a chance to comment on many of your blogs, but I AM reading them all! It's comforting to know that I was not alone in my overindulgences of the past month. I too have found myself hiding the scale this week so as to not get down on myself about the past that I can do nothing about. BUT, I've been totally back OP this week, and although I did partake of the tiny cakes and tartlettes this past weekend, we forced ourselves to go to the hotel gym on Friday and walk on the beach for 2 hours on Saturday. I don't feel like the damage was severe.

Regardless, I'm ready to face the numbers tomorrow - and I feel pretty good about it. Or at least I do in my clothes.

I haven't really had a chance to think about any resolutions aside from reading a book a month (which was one I failed to do last year). I have a feeling this one will be easy with all the travel time I'll accumulate before the end of the year. I also want to learn to knit. More on resolutions to come...

I do have a loss goal that I'd like to meet by Spring (March 31st): 10 pounds.
I'm guessing that will put me at around 155, depending on tomorrow's weigh in. I would like to have a fitness goal, but I think my upcoming 12-hour days are going to make getting in any exercise an achievement. I plan to keep pounding the pavement though! Nothing better for the stress of trying to plan a wedding and start a new position!!

I really should not be blogging at all tonight. My christmas tree still stands. Seriously.

Some Favorite Holiday Memories

2007-12-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from Joe & Mandy

Preparing the feast.
Observe that I am merely drinking a White Russian and not helping in the least bit.

Our lovely and healthy Christmas Eve Dinner - YUM!
courtesy of Nicole & Zetty

Faithful friends who are dear to us...
Me & Nicole

Outside lights...

and the inside lights...aww!!

Mandy and Joe ornaments!

Christmas Grayci with her jingle on.

The culprit of last week's gain.
I cooked for three days...

Me with my new haircut & Joe's niece, Cheyenne.

Joe with his grandmothers, Mary & June.
They're the BEST grandmas ever!
(notice Joe's tacky sweater I made him)

Yuehli, Amanda and I at
Amanda's Tacky Sweater/Guitar Hero 3 Party.

I hope that you all had holidays just as wonderful as we did!!

Raise your hand if you're over the damn holidays!!

2007-12-26T11:28:00.000-05:00

Too much wine, too many shots, and WAY too much eggnog, grandma's fudge, coconut cake and m&ms. I fear it will not be a pretty sight at the scale on Friday.

BUT although I was totally kicking my own ass about the numbers last night, I'm totally not stressing about it today!

I feel this strange and unfamiliar motivation urging me to get back on the the wagon with a vengence that I haven't felt since early November. See, this weekend was the first time since joining WW last March that I've completely let all of my self control fly out the window. And it's led me to realize that I absolutely hate the feeling of being out of control! I found myself eating anything within reach as if I were a starving zombie (and I will even confess to then spitting it out in the garbage when my taste buds reminded me of what I had done - yikes!). And I certainly don't like the depression that follows my actions when I've been that way.

So, even though I have a major uphill battle to climb this week to get back on track, I have had a valuable reminder of why I started this to begin with and why I will continue - not on January 7 as previously mentioned. But TODAY!!

Who's with me??!

And to all a good weigh in!

2007-12-21T09:51:00.000-05:00

This is probably my last post before Santa's arrival, so I'm ending my Christmas Challenge with a loss of .4 for the week. That puts me at 4.4 away from my goal, but I'm pretty happy with what I've accomplished in spite of the holiday fare over the past month. I'm continuing the rest of the holiday season in maintanence mode, but I vow to be back to weight loss mode on January 7. That's the day we return from our annual employee appreciation bash (which is an entire weekend at The Don Cesar in St. Pete, Florida this year - sunshine, baby, yeah!!!). I think someone around here *cough Randi and Carolyn cough* should propose a Spring Break Challenge to get our asses in gear for bathing suit season! Not that you'll see my ass in a bathing suit anytime soon, but just seeing them on the racks makes me want to have the option, you know?

Anyway, the food here in the office sent from clients and brought in by employees has been just plain out overwhelming. I've been holding out for the most part, excluding the 2 chocolate covered raspberries and 2 toffees on Wednesday and a handful of Mud Buddies yesterday. Actually, a coworker noticed I was eating yesterday and was curious to know which treat from the kitchen I had decided to nibble on. She almost seemed disgusted to find out it was an apple, and that made me really proud. :D

A side note in reference to yesterday's Pottery Barn rant, I was thrilled to see a sincere apology from them in my inbox this morning along with a $50 gift certificate which is also good at Williams Sonoma! I'll be doing a little late kitchen gadget shopping for myself in a few weeks - hooray!

As I may have mentioned, after the holidays are over I will be training my replacement for two weeks and then starting 'boot camp' on Jan 17th. Boot camp is basically a 6-week, 12-hour a day, intense training course here at my company where you learn the details of our company, the industry and our software. Only a few more than half make it through the class, the rest go to the unemployment line. I have an advantage in that I've already been here a year (but in a position that did not require getting through the training) and I also happen to live with one of the QA testers for the new version of the software that's being used in training this time. The biggest obstacle for me, I believe, will just be the disruption to my normal routine. I will have to plan my meals even harder and pack more food to get through the 12-hour days, but it's not impossible. Oddly, I'm actually even looking forward to the challenge.

It looks as though they're letting us go home early here today, so I should get back to work tying up some loose ends.

Merry Christmas, Ya'll!

Happy Freakin' Holidays to you too, Pottery Barn.

2007-12-20T14:18:00.000-05:00

This letter pretty much sums up how my shopping experience has been this year. Hope you guys are more ready for the holiday than I am.

Dear stupid f*$#s at the Pottery Barn:

(no I didn't say that in the real letter, but I should've)

Last Wednesday (12/12/07) I placed my first, and what may very well be my last order with the Pottery Barn. After I placed my order , I continually checked back on the progress on your website only to find it still "in progress" a week later. Upon calling your customer service line yesterday, I was told by Ellie that my order appeared to be lost and that 2 of my items were now out of stock and I would not be able to get them. This was SO disappointing - as they were two of my main christmas gifts that were going to be given during our dinner this coming Saturday. Not only would I not have any gifts, I would have to make time to go and choose alternatives in just 2 days!! Meanwhile, I asked for those 2 items to be cancelled and since the rest of my order was in stock, I asked Ellie to please expedite those items for Saturday delivery.
I did receive an email today (Thursday) that my items had been shipped. To my surprise, the 2 items I was told were not in stock were shipped!! The good news is that I will have the gifts I originally wanted. The bad news is that I will have to make ANOTHER trip to the mall today to return the gift I bought in replacement for them last night. The straw that is absolutely breaking the camel's back here is that I just found out that my items will not arrive until MONDAY! This is just completely unacceptable considering I placed my order LAST WEDNESDAY!
I do not want to cancel my order, however, due to your failure, my parents will now not receive their gifts until after Christmas - possibly spring! I am so very disappointed. I was very much looking forward to being a long time customer of the Pottery Barn. I had recently gotten my first catalog and couldn't wait to get my first order. I am very let down that a ruined christmas would be my first and last experience.

A. Vaughn

So now thanks to them and Barnes & Noble, half of my presents won't be here until Monday - 2 days too late. I'm having to try REAL REAL hard to keep up the Christmas spirit, people. *sigh*

Scrooged

2007-12-16T16:21:00.000-05:00

It had to happen eventually. My indulgent celebrations have finally caused me a gain: A whole freakin' pound this week.

I'm currently trying to detox from Friday night today in hopes that I can level it back off for this weeks' weigh in. 0-point soup, here I come!!

I Give Up

2007-12-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

I'm not exactly sure why, but my info for the christmas challenge never gets updated.
So I'm posting my own, because I'm starting to feel like a loser with the 30% that keeps showing up on the official spreadsheet:

Goal: 160 lbs
Current: 163.8
Total lost: 9.2
Total lost %: 71%

12/07/07 163.8 lbs -1.0 lbs
11/28/07 164.8 lbs -0.8 lbs
11/21/07 165.6 lbs -1.8 lbs
11/14/07 167.4 lbs +0.2 lbs
11/07/07 167.2 lbs -1.6 lbs
10/29/07 168.8 lbs -0.4 lbs
10/26/07 169.2 lbs -0.6 lbs
10/19/07 169.8 lbs -1.5 lbs
10/12/07 171.3 lbs +0.9 lbs
10/05/07 170.4 lbs -1.1 lbs
09/28/07 171.5 lbs -1.5 lbs

I feel better now.

Checkin' in

2007-12-10T13:54:00.000-05:00

I managed a tiny loss last week (1.0 lb) And for that I am SO thankful! I have had to employ the most stellar of eating habits during the week to make up for all the festivities. I'm now 3.8 away from my Christmas goal, and with 2 weeks to go, it *could* happen.

BUT, I'm worried about WI this week...chinese food, wine, eggnog, cupcakes, peppermint bark, sausage balls, bacon wraps were all a part of my weekend. Our Christmas party for our friends was Saturday night, which wasn't SO bad. I even ate a healthy dinner BEFORE the party started AND drank all of my water. I nibbled here and there, probably more than I would have had it not been for the wine, but overall, I escaped with little injury. THAT was Saturday. I will share a bit of advice with you all about the day after: put up any food the night before!! I awoke Sunday morning a little dehydrated of course and starving, so I managed to ruin the day 30 minutes into it with the leftovers lying around(cookies & M&M's). F)%*(&@#&@!!!
I proceeded to ruin it even further last night by choosing to order chinese instead of getting my ass up and going to the grocery store (we were cleaned out on everything to eat from the party). I'm paying dearly today with a major case of bloat. And I couldn't even make myself step on the scale this morning.

On top of it all...my fitness goals for the month are going on the backburner for now. And I really hate this since I'm seeing all of you guys setting fitness goals, but I'm barely managing to get my cardio miles in! AND I haven't even done a lick of shopping besides what I got for Joe. I'm seriously behind. Whoever said (I think it was Randi) that dieting should be just a summer thing, I have to agree.

But I think the break from it all during the holidays may be just what I need to get back to it in January.

In the meantime, a couple of tiny goals for the week just so my whole world doesn't crumble:

- get in 12 miles somehow
- give away the rest of the damn cupcakes and peppermint bark

You may now commence to kicking my ass:

SO BUSY!

2007-11-29T15:31:00.000-05:00

Between trying to plan a wedding (which is officially October 25, 2008, by the way), a bachelorette party, and 2 christmas parties in the next 30 days, my blog is suffering. Luckily, my eating habits are NOT!

I don't know if my metabolism has decided to pick back up since I've quit smoking (I heard Oprah's trainer say that quitting smoking actually does affect your body's chemistry and makes it very hard to lose and quit at the same time - so yay me! I'm awesome!) or maybe just not obsessing about every little thing is the key, but whatever the reason, I managed to lose again this week without half trying!

I've been too sick, exhuasted and busy to get more than one good walk in since last week. I've cooked pasta for dinner for the last two evenings - something I don't EVER do. I just haven't felt focused on 'the plan', but maybe I've been doing it so long that I'm unconsciously ON even when I don't think I am.

Who knows. But I will take my .8 loss this week as a blessing and encouragement to focus harder next week.

And with this loss, 4.8 to go until I reach that Christmas Goal!

I remember saying when I signed up for the challenge that I wanted to be wearing a size 12 to the company party this year. Actually, it looks like it might even be a 10!

Here's something I just got in my inbox. Pics are always fun! This is me & Joe at Thanksgiving. Look! You can see my collar bones and no double chin! Holy skinny cow! I almost look THIN in this pic!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Fear of Failure

2007-11-23T19:54:00.000-05:00

Do any of you ever start replying to someone else's blog only to realize you have suddenly written an entire entry of your own in their comment section?

Well, I just had this happen over at Randi's blog. She just met a chin-up goal of hers - how very awesome! It made me think about my own goals and how I tend to keep them all secret. Not like super secret in a locked up box or anything, I've just not told anyone or announced them here on my blog. I remember learning in my persuasion class that by making something public, you commit yourself and increase your chance of success. Then again I also know that by NOT announcing my goals, I've never really set them, so I never fail at achieving them. I really despise making plans and goals only to have them fall by the wayside when life gets in the way. I don't like letting other people down and so I often miss out on things that I might enjoy and even be good at (like playing softball with the team at work).

I suppose this is something I learned before I even knew what failure meant. I don't look down on other people who occasionally don't reach their goals - I commend them for trying. So why in the hell am I so hard on myself?

What do I have to lose, right? There's a better chance I'll succeed or at least improve myself trying to get there than never trying at all, right?

So, here goes. A goal aside from numbers on the scale (that I seem to have only a moderate amount of control over on any given day).

I hereby declare that I, seldom setter of goals with a dog in her lap licking her turkey leftover infused fingers, will be able to hold that plank for 60 seconds by the end of December. 3 of them. Without uttering explicatives.

It shall be done.

Thanks, Randi. :)

The Unplanned

2007-11-22T22:44:00.000-05:00

A monkey wrench right in my perfectly planned week of festivities and projects arrived yesterday in the form of some nasty head cold/sinus infection funk. Bleh. The first time I'm sick in over a year couldn't have been more ill timed. I have too much to do to feel like crap! And between the paint fumes and cold meds, you are lucky if any of this has made sense so far.

I did manage to escape the dreaded Thanksgiving dinner disasters. I didn't feel up to making the salad, but I still filled half of my plate with green items - beans & collards. I rounded it out with a small serving of the white bird meat and about three bites of my sweet potato souffle. I had seconds on the green beans and shared a slice of triple chocolate cheesecake with my honey (that he made all by himself!). Not a bad day at all. We even left all of the remaining dishes for everyone else to take home (a nice advantage of not having the dinner at your own place).

I can't say I've been completely on plan all week though. I've been so busy, I am starving by the time I realize it's past time for lunch or dinner. Such moments lead to ordering of pizza. I doubt this will be ANY good for my weigh in next week, but I tried to be somewhat healthy and left off the cheese. Anybody have any ideas on what a slice is from Papa John's thin crust without cheese?

I totally forgot to post my WI from yesterday. The scale was kind: 165.6. Down 1.8 for the week. 5.6 from my christmas challenge goal with 4 weeks to go. We shall see....

Thankful For

2007-11-19T16:56:00.000-05:00

...all of the holiday eating survival tips that have surfaced over the past week!

(Ok, and yes, pumpkin pie, ya got me)

While alot of them are common sense, I've chosen these four as my mantra for Thursday's feast:

1. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK, DRINK!!!!!!!!!!!!

(the water, that is)

It's the only thing I can count on to make me not hungry and to keep me that way.

2. Take only about 3 bites of the things that you want.

I like this one. I agree that I really only remember the first and last bite of it anyway, so why bother with the rest?

3. Sit next to the slowest eater.

I am SO guilty of inhaling my food - but when I'm around slower eaters it makes me more conscious and I tend to slow down. This could work...

4. Wear the skinny jeans to dinner!

Not only will everyone tell me how fabulous I look in those new 12's I just bought, but I won't be able to overstuff myself without developing a muffin top either!

I have to admit that I'm also thankful that my man's family's thanksgiving dinner food isn't the greatest. It basically consists of every possible vegetable in a mayo or soup-based casserole - ugh. So this year, I'm taking my kick ass sweet potato souffle that I take every year (it's just not thanksgiving without it, and mine is the best!) and a SALAD! I'm looking forward to seeing how many takers there are on the salad...

oh, and that gives me an impromptu #5:

Half of my plate will be that salad.

Rock on, my fellow turkey lovers.

No Surprises

2007-11-14T19:44:00.000-05:00

I'm true to my pattern again this week. After a good substantial loss, I always gain or stay the same the following week. This week I'm up .2. Not shocking at all.

If there's a bright side, it's that I am learning how my body likes to lose weight, and that keeps me from losing motivation knowing that a so-so week is just part of the deal for me. So yay for not being deflated over a .2 gain.

Aside from the cheese and wine incident last Friday, I've been doing pretty great with my food intake. I'm not doing as well as I could substituting the apple for the Jello pudding snack, and I totally have an addiction to the baked Lay's with cheddar & sour cream, but there's still plenty to be proud of - including walking right past 3 boxes of donuts and muffins AND a homemade chocolate cake in the breakroom yesterday without touching any of it. I work with a bunch of evil bastards, I tell ya.

The new running shoes (made by Ryka - anyone tried them before?) are breaking in nicely and I'm totally kicking ass on my goal of running at least half the distance. I may be a good bit above half actually. And it feels great! There's this KILLER hill in our subdivision I save for last and last night I noticed I wasn't even winded at the top! I'm still managing only about 3.5 miles 4 or 5 times a week. I'd like to be at 4, but I have to be realistic and set time limits on exercise. Otherwise, I'd be out walking for 2 hours every night. I'm doing planks (3 for about 40 seconds each) and some arm weights while I watch TV to try and get in some upper body and core work. It's not much, but it's a start.

This weekend the holiday blur begins. Saturday morning I have a wedding consultation at The Foundry Park Inn in Athens (which means I could have a date set on Saturday!) and going over to my crafty friend Jolene's to make christmas cards that afternoon. Sunday I am prepping my living room/hallway/foyer/dining room area for repainting over Thanksgiving. Joe and I are taking the week off to get it all done. Thanksgiving we'll go to his parents and then the 2nd annual hockey game with our friends, and then at some point during the weekend, we'll go visit my mom. The rest of the time will be spent with a roller in hand. Joy, joy. (notice the sarcasm)
Ah well, it needs to be done and what better time than before the holidays, right?

The weekend after Thanksgiving I'm hosting a post-bachelorette party for a friend of mine whose matron of honor somehow managed to miss that detail of being the highest ranking member of the wedding party. She's already tied the knot, but loved the idea of having a girl's night out, so I'm getting the limo for us girls and we're going to a nice dinner in Decatur, followed by dessert at The Chocolate Bar (a new awesome dessert bar), and karaoke at the Irish Pub here in Conyers. Should be a blast!

The next several weeks after that are a hodgepodge of my own holiday parties and parties of friends, so you can bet I'll have my ass in the kitchen quite a bit! This is the one time of year when my Martha gets to come out and play. Hee, and I don't mean anything off-color by that at all. HAhahahaha...sometimes I crack myself up!!! Could you imagine referring to your hoo-hoo as Martha??! Oh dear....ahem.

ANYWAY, the real Christmas challenge is just beginning for me. Somehow I am doubting that I will reach my 13 pound goal, but a little more than halfway at this point isn't too bad. I think NOT gaining anything over the next month is going to be much harder than losing what I have the last 3 months! I WILL BE STRONG! And I will not be having that cigarette with the glass of wine! Funny, I really don't even think about smoking anymore until someone reminds me that I use to. Perhaps I really am a non-smoker now.

:D

Oh, weigh in for the week is 167.4. +.2 from last week.
Goal for 12/25 is 160.

Just reminding myself.

A Little Inspiration

2007-11-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

This is my inspiration for the week. After too much cheese & wine on Friday night, I certainly need some. I may be breaking even on weigh in this week, but here's a little something to celebrate:

I now see how good I was at avoiding having my picture taken when I was at my heaviest weight over a year ago. I have no decent pics to which I can compare myself!

But, I came across one taken last October (above on the left) around 194 lbs. And although the angle I'm turned and the clothes I'm wearing seem to camoflage some of the progress, you can definitely see a difference - if only in my face. The one on the right was taken at around 170 lbs a few weeks ago.

Asshat?

2007-11-11T10:14:00.002-05:00

The Oracle of Starbucks has this to say about my triple espresso order:
(I'm pretty sure I don't even know what an Asshat is!)

Behold the Oracle's wisdom:

Personality type: Asshat

You carry around philosophy books you haven't read and wear trendy wire-rimmed glasses even though you have perfect vision. You've probably added an accent to your name or changed the pronunciation to seem sophisticated. You hang out in coffee shops because you don't have a job because you got your degree in French Poetry. People who drink triple espresso are notorious for spouting off angry, liberal opinions about issues they don't understand.

Also drinks: Any drink with a foreign name
Can also be found at: The other, locally owned coffee shop you claim to like better

Green Star!

2007-11-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

Remember that blathering email from Friday where I pondered everything but my own existance?

Well forget all that. I hung in there and have lost 1.6 since Friday!

and that puts me over the 25-pound mark (green star, baby, yay!) on WW.

I have no idea why or how. I haven't done anything different. Maybe all of my hard work has just finally caught up with me. It's about damn time! WOOOHOOOOO!!!!

I'm IT!

2007-11-04T18:37:00.000-05:00

Ahhh! I got tagged! I'm it! Wheeeeee!

I've been tagged by the swizzlin' popstar, so I must oblige by playing along.

And besides, it's way more fun than my whiney, pathetic last post.

The Rules:
1-Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2-Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3-Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4- Let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog

About Me:

1. The first four of these will probably take me a while, will be well-thought out and carefully planned. The last three will be crap.

2. I would try out for American Idol if I weren't too old.

3. I am 3 1/2 years sober from a helluva drug addiction. That feels good to say.

4. I'm getting hair removal with my christmas bonus this year. And since I love you guys so much, I'll take it to the next level and tell you where...the hairs of my chinny chin chin.

5. I am marrying a man with the stinkiest farts in the whole world.

6. I have recently come to the conclusion that Fiber One bars make me 2nd runner up in that race.

7. I am really scared about my new job and being on the road so much.

I tag...

Anne

Cory

Tara

Frustration = lack of motivation

2007-11-04T17:20:00.000-05:00

Again I say: stupid scales.

It’s just a mediocre week for me. No huge loss to post about. No fireworks. No jumping up and down. A measley freakin’ 1/2 pound.

No doubt a direct product of the 2^nd helping of chili and too many tortilla chips on Halloween and the too-many-to-count rum & diet cokes on Tuesday.

It’s been hard to be good this week with the holiday. I’ve gone ‘out’ 3 nights of the week. That’s completely NOT typical for me. Is this a sign of the holiday tragedies that are to come? Oh dear…

And I had SUCH a good start from my stellar weekend. *sigh*

And the thing is, I didn't even use all my flex points with the two aforementioned mishaps included.

The biggest bummer of it all is that for the entire month of October I have only lost 2.5 pounds.

That’s pathetic. This could be the first real plateau I've hit.

I think what worries me most is that at this rate I’m going to totally lose all motivation. I feel boredom starting to creep in.

But enough of my whining. Where do I go from here?

I’m doing great with my regular walking/jogging schedule. Especially considering last month, I walked 19 out of 31 days for a total of 143,000 steps or 63 miles. That averages 8,000 steps or 3.3 miles for each outing. I have logged so many miles in the past few months that I need new shoes! I’ve made a few visits to the gym for weight training and have thrown in some planks for good measure at home. Although I could definitely (and plan to) add more weights and strength training in November, this is awesome for me and what my body is use to.

I’ve been thinking about switching up the workout just to see what happens. I have The Firm setup I bought over a year ago and could barely use when I was 200+ pounds. I’m sure it will be much easier now. Just gotta figure out where in my cramped house I’m going to have room to set it up.

BUT… If it really is only 20% exercise and 80% diet…it MUST BE the diet, right?

I have gone back to tracking my points, flex included, like it’s a religion. I am consistent on my daily points (usually under by 1 or right on). I’ve never felt like one of those people who isn’t eating enough – it’s just impossible.

Lately, I have even been giving up the 1 and 2 point ‘treats’ I use to allow myself. I could probably stand to have a bit more calcium in my diet, but as for veggies and fruit intake, I’m always on track with my daily apple, carrots & celery, huge helping of spinach or greens for lunch and the same with dinner.

I rarely go beyond my allowed flex points during the week. Most of the time, I only use half of them.

I’m wondering if maybe I should try something different all together. As much as I hate the thought of anything far fetched from my normal way of eating, I’ve even been considering the South Beach thing. Or maybe I should just switch to the Core Plan for a while.

But before I give up on the points altogether, I am going to give one last honest effort next week. Record everything. Double the water intake. Go for the 12000 steps each time instead of stopping at 10000. Jog half of it.

Also, I've decided to switch my weigh in day to Wednesday instead of Friday. Hopefully this will curb my urges to splurge on the weekends knowing I only have 2 days to recover.

That's where I am. Those are my plans. Your suggestions and encouragement is welcome and appreciated!

Websense Sucks

2007-11-01T22:08:00.000-04:00

A morning like any other...

I get to work around 8:20 and immediately head to the kitchen to jump start my metabolism with my usual bowl of Fiber One with Fiber Plus Vanilla Silk. I Sit down at my desk to eat while catching up on blogs from the previous evening. Oh, hey, look! Carolyn has written up something about her Halloween. Let's go check it out! I love how she always addresses her audience as 'ladies'. It feels so at home and southern to me. Hmmm...I wonder if the Hot Thick Chick has given in to her Diet Coke addiction yet. Let's go and find out! Randi has a new blog up as well. Let's go see who she's been giving hell and how huge her biceps are this week! Looks like Bri and Meg have been busy over at Skinnify and the weigherinnerlady (hehe) has again offended my fellow blogger Swizzlepop. I am entertained daily by them and all and it's a great start to the morning. Not to mention it motivates me to eat those carrots (yes, again) and fill up the water jug.

However, this morning, as I clicked a direct link so as to leave a comment, I was DENIED! It seems that malicious content has been coming from blogspot and as of yesterday it is added to the Websense list of sites to which we are denied access. Luckily, I can still read all of your blogs, but ixnay on the freakin' ommentscay. Damnit, damnit, damnit!

Looks like I will be saving my comments for nights and weekends only. BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Beware the Care Bear Stare!

2007-10-30T11:35:00.001-04:00

Last night was trivia night.

The theme = scary.

Team Name = Care Bear Scare.

Me = awesome!

I'm still not exactly sure how I came up with Kubrick for directing The Shining. I'm not even a Kubrick fan.

But that was my shining moment (no pun intended) that led to our team's ultimate victory.

And so my friends, I had a realization that I must be a complete and utter dork. And I'm more than ok with that. See, for me, it's not about my body, or what I can or cannot wear that determines my worth. There's so much more to me than the shell I live in. Last night being the trivia MVP made me feel like the sexiest woman alive! :D

Nothing much else to report. I had a great weekend catching up on laundry, watching movies and planting some beautiful amber and burgandy mums. And of course, any weekend spent watching UGA kick the crap out of some Gators is NEVER a bad weekend. Woot!

I've found that when I have no plans for the weekend, it's so much easier to stay on track. Somehow, I've even managed to show a loss already this early in the week! (Holy Crap!)

I don't want to jinx myself, but this could turn into a really good week for WI on Friday. Here's hoping...

Numbers

2007-10-25T22:02:00.000-04:00

I've been pretty discouraged with my numbers all along. They are never where I want them to be and always seem to be just barely hovering where they are - not stable by any means.

I had a huge realization about the scale numbers tonight actually. I've only lost about 8 pounds since July, but I can now get into almost everything in my closet. Things I've not worn in four years. Things I had kept just for sentimental reasons.

I had a bit of meltdown after trying a few things on because I have been so hard on myself thinking I'd made no progress whatsoever. But I have. And it's all in inches!! And I will take a tinier new wardrobe over the numbers on the scales anyday!

The Essential 8

2007-10-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I am so consumed with the numbers on the scale that I often forget how much healthier I am based on my diet alone. I came across an article today that made me realize that my diet is currently the best it has been in my whole life. Of course, that's not saying much coming from having a mother who's ideal dinners were cheeseburgers and candy bars, but I can honestly say that on the whole, I am very proud of everything that goes into my body these days.

The article listed the 8 foods you should eat every day and what it's good for. The list of them includes spinach, yogurt, tomatoes, blueberries, walnuts, oats, carrots and black beans. I can check off at least 5 of them on any given day, but I could certainly up my intake of walnuts and berries.

How many of them do you eat?

Oh Betty Crocker How I Love Thee

2007-10-23T15:10:00.000-04:00

This soup is largely responsible for my staying on track the past week. If it weren't for the sodium, I would eat it every day!!

Seriously, if you haven't tried this Progresso Light Southwestern-Style Vegetable, what on earth are you waiting for?!

Chrivia Night

2007-10-22T18:20:00.000-04:00

that would be chili meets trivia night.

We needed a quick dinner before heading out the door on this nasty, rainy October eve to support the trivia team, and so a variation of the Hearty Turkey Chili from the WW database was on the menu. We threw this together into the crock pot while we were home on our lunch break. However, we took queues from another chili recipe and spiced this one up a bit. Literally.

The turkey chili recipe is pretty basic, so I always cook it up from memory. It goes something like:

small package of ground turkey (i think it's around 2 lbs) browned in a skillet with one chopped onion, as much garlic as you like, and 1 tsp paprika, 1 tbsp cumin, and 2 tbsp chili powder.

throw this mixture into a slow cooker (or large pot) along with a can of crushed tomatoes, chopped red bell pepper, 2 chopped carrots, and one can of kidney beans. This recipe also calls for a cup of chicken broth, but if you were to add the poblanos in the next step, skip the stock. It comes out a bit too soupy with both liquids.

If you are brave, like we were today, take 3 poblano chili peppers (dried), heat them in a skillet on medium until they puff up and soften a bit. Cut off their tops and deseed them (you can add the seeds directly to the crock pot at this point if you like more heat). Place the peppers in a bowl and cover them with a cup of boiling water for a few minutes. Throw the water/pepper mixture into a blender or food processor and pulse a few times. Add this to the crock pot.

Let this cook on low for 4 or 6 hours.

If I were to cook this up on a weekend, I'd sacrifice a few points and add a half bottle of Guiness. The depth the ale gives it is incredible!

I also took a hint from Roni and cooked up my first spaghetti squash tonight. In the bottom of my bowl underneath the chili, it felt like I ate twice as much as I actually did - for ZERO points!
Thanks, Roni!

Ode to Me

2007-10-21T21:17:00.000-04:00

inspired by a post on swizzlepop's blog, reasons why I'm awesome...

1. Because I stuck to my goals for the weekend. Yeah, I ate the cake, but I also ate only raw veggies for the rest of the reception with a smidgen of dip. I also got the 8 miles in! (which is probably why I'm blogging right now - i doubt i can get up from this chair)

2. Because I am about to start a new position at work in January. It requires going through a rigorous 6-week boot camp of 10-12 hour days, but I know I can do it and I can't wait to be out on the road training clients and being utilized to my fullest potential!

3. Because last weekend I had to go and kidnap all of my skinny size 12 jeans from a friend I had permanently 'loaned' them to (or so I thought!)

4. Because I saved $15 with my coupons today! Cha-ching!

5. Because I finally realized that I don't need Joe's family's approval to know that I'm awesome. Damn it, I just am!

Here's to a terrifically awesome week!

I have a confession...

2007-10-19T14:25:00.000-04:00

I am obsessed with coupons.

I have been on and off since I was married in my early 20's and HAD to clip them in order to afford groceries.

And lately, the rising price of groceries has prompted a relapse ($4 for a gallon of milk - WTF??!). Every Sunday morning these days you can find me curled up on the couch with my coffee, puppies, scissors, and the giant Sunday edition of the AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) clipping, sorting, and merging them into my already massive collection of papyrus treasures.

You can imagine my delight when earlier this week I found a site called The Coupon Clippers. Here you can search through their collection of coupons and for pennies of the face value, you can order as many coupons as you like for only products you use on a regular basis. My first order arrived today - an envelope stuffed full of coupons for Progresso Soup, Fiber Plus Silk, Morningstar Farms, Laughing Cow Wedges, and Birds Eye Steamfresh veggie packs. I paid a mere $8 for all of these coupons that will amount to at least $40 in savings. And the best part is that it's all products I normally buy anyway!!!!

Now if I could just find a solution for how freakin' long it takes the cashiers to ring the damn things up...

1-6-X

2007-10-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

They appeared this morning. The elusive 1-6 prefix on the scale.
It feels good.

Officially down 1.5 for the week, 23.7 total loss on WW.
Today's weigh in = 169.8

BUT...
The weekend stares me in the face. Today has already been a semi-disaster with chinese for lunch. I should've just went home and had the usual ham sandwich, but at least I have a full week before weigh in. I know that the wedding tomorrow will involve cake. Here's hoping that it's cheesecake or lemon, or just a really bad, dried-out anykind of cake that discourages me from eating it. OR that my skinny pants I plan to wear make me so uncomfortable I can't eat it.

So the plan is as follows:

I'm attempting to keep better track of my flex points on the weekends. I had been letting it slide. Keeping up with it in my head isn't the greatest idea I've ever had. I will continue to journal everything again this weekend.

Get in as much water as possible Saturday morning before the wedding. But not so much that I have to go pee three times during the ceremony.

Rack up at least 8 activity points before Monday. Or, walk 4 miles tonight, 4 on Sunday. Shouldn't be a problem.

Be at (or under) what I was today on the scale when I step on it Monday morning.

**It's been a while since I've posted an update on this topic, but it's an important achievement for me. This Sunday marks 6 weeks since I've given up the Camel Lights. It feels GREAT!

Have a great weekend guys and gals!

Baby Girl's Birthday

2007-10-17T10:46:00.000-04:00

Happy 5th Birthday, Grayci. Mama loves you SO much!

Old Friends

2007-10-15T16:53:00.000-04:00

Last night at the Ryan Adams show at the Fox, I ran into an old friend. Things didn't end so well between us, so the chance encounter was awkward to say the least. At first, anyway. My heart skipped a beat when I realized who had called my name from across the room - the last person on earth I wanted to see.

After the first few minutes of superficial 'you look great' comments, it occured to me that my old friend was glad to see me. I had reached out to her a year and a half or so ago to try and mend things, without any real response, so I had let it go. You can imagine my shock and disbelief when we ended up confessing our miscommunications over a few glasses of wine, hugging, laughing (I actually shed a tear or two; hoping she didn't notice) and sharing stories from our past four years that we had not shared together. Actually, I'm still a little baffled by it all.

It is such a warm feeling I can't explain. I suggest everyone try a little forgiveness of your own and see what happens...

To old friends!

Quick Numbers

2007-10-13T14:34:00.000-04:00

WI - 171.3
Lost on WW - 22.2
Total Lost - 34.7
Change this week - +.9

Goals for the weekend
Stick to the afforementioned plan
Drink all of my water

Ready for WI

2007-10-12T10:24:00.000-04:00

After substituting veggies for almost all of my normal treats this week and kicking some serious ass during my 'last chance workout' last night (11000 steps, approx 4.5 miles - at least 2 miles jogging), I think I may have managed to avoid a huge gain this week. WHEW!

This is my reminder that a splurge on Sunday = a gain on Friday.

I already have a plan in place for the weekend - some yummy chili for Saturday evening (ingredients already purchased, no excuses) to endulge myself without having it show up on the scales Monday. I am stocked up with some Breyer's double churn light for a 2-point treat on Sunday to follow some grilled turkey burgers.

My only big challenge looks to be a concert I'm going to on Sunday evening. I'm planning to save 4 points for a couple of light beers or glasses of wine and definitely eat dinner beforehand and stash some 100-calorie packs of something in the car for the ride home.

I have some extra motivation in the form of a wedding I'm attending next weekend. Not only will I need to have a great week next week in case of a minor lapse in judgement during the festivities, but I also want to look fabulous for all of Joe's family who I've not seen in a while. Finally, I'll be the one being asked 'have you lost weight' instead of my future SIL who's a beanpole to begin with! You guessed correctly if you were thinking I'll be wearing those skinny black pants. ;)

Oh, one last thing to report. Have you all tried the WW Caramel Cakes? YUM!!! 1 point of heaven...

Weekend Disasters

2007-10-09T08:59:00.000-04:00

For the second week in a row, I have sabatoged my week of hard honest effort in one day on the weekend. I don't really understand how ONE meal can zero out all of my hard work for the previous two weeks! ARGH!!!!!!! It is so frustrating to be losing the same 3 pounds over and over and over.

The insanity has to stop. This weekend I will NOT allow one moment of starvation to ruin the last 120 hours worth of planning, measuring and counting. I need a plan. I feel like the routine I have during the week has become so much of a routine that I'm rebelling against it on Saturday and Sunday. Perhaps I'll search out a special menu to cook for dinner on Saturday and that will spice things up without making me dread getting on the scales the next day.

All I know is that at this rate, I will never see the 160s.

*SIGH*

I feel like I should end this dreaded post on a positive note. Eating more often during the day has definitely helped me maintain control until dinner. I have also bumped up my dinner time to around 6:30 instead of 7:00. Since I usually spend my time after dinner walking or consumed with what I'ved tivo'd from the night before, I find that I don't get hungry again before bedtime.

I am also hitting the office gym again this week starting today for some strength training. I will need a miracle to have a loss this week...

The Dogs Who Found ME

2007-10-04T21:17:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading a book by Ken Foster called "The Dogs Who Found Me: what I've learned from pets who were left behind". It is a touching demonstration of the human spirit and the reciprocation of generosity that occurs when you rescue an animal. What you get in return is worth every sacrifice. In so many ways, these two have rescued me.

A dog comes to you and lives with you in your own house, but you do not therefore own her, as you do not own the rain, or the trees, or the laws which pertain to them...

A dog can never tell you what she knows from the smells of the world, but you know, watching her, that you know almost nothing...

-From "Her Grave" by Mary Oliver

no...more...apples!!

2007-10-03T15:16:00.001-04:00

For my afternoon snack today, I am forcing down the last of those apples from my picking adventure last week. I feel confident I am good on my fiber intake for several months to come....

My experiment of eating more often during the day is going well so far, despite a bit of mindless snacking upon arriving home from work yesterday. But it wasn't nearly to the same extent. I actually *listened* to the tiny voice that said stop this time. Part of it very well could be just plain ol' habit, so if that's the case, if I make sure I'm not hungry when I walk in the door, I might be able to do the mental work necessary to avoid consuming those extra points in 2 minutes flat. Either that, or I'm going to start using the front door in order to avoid the kitchen altogether!

The schedule I'm following goes something like:

7:30am 1/2 cup fiber one cereal, 1/2 cup silk = 1 pt
10:00am yoplait light yogurt = 2 pt
12:30pm turkey, spinach & feta in a FlatOut wrap = 3 pt
progresso light soup = 0 pt
baked lays = 2 pt
2:30pm 6oz apple = 1 pt
4:00pm kashi peanut peanut butter bar = 2 pt
5:30pm popcorn = 1 pt
7:00pm grilled chicken salad = 8 pt
skim milk = 2 pt*

Total = 22 points
*I am often guilty of forgoing listed skim milk at dinner for a weight watchers cookies & cream bar. Not ideal, but mmmmm!!!!

I could really get the hang of this eating all the time thing!

Tuesday Contradictions

2007-10-02T08:36:00.000-04:00

Today I'm eating all day, every hour to see if this helps curb my appetite later in the day. Yesterday I didn't eat anything after lunch, so at 5:30, upon arriving at home, I went straight to the pantry, scarfed down some chips, apple pie and popcorn. Today will be BETTER! And tomorrow the scales will be happy! I had a tiny gain this morning after eating all that crap yesterday - even after walking 3 miles last night. :(

The contradiction to the lack of weight loss I'm able to log is that today I'm wearing these slim fit size 14 pants that I haven't worn since probably 1993. I look HOT! OWWWWWWWWWW! :)
I'm guessing that all of the miles I've logged this past month have made a huge difference after all, even if it's not on the scales. However it has happened...I'll take it!

And I'm still determined to see the 160s this week, damnit, if it kills me.

Thank you dear baby Jesus, it's Friday!

2007-09-28T16:52:00.001-04:00

And I'm down a pound to start off this Christmas Challenge.

I'm happy for the loss, but honestly, I would've shed 2 pounds if it hadn't been for my "on vacation" excuses. Ah well. Next week.

I lived to report my time for my first 5k last night: 00:50:49! I'm quite pleased with that. If we'd started with the runners, the time would've been more accurate. I'm really just shocked at how competitive I got and how much I ended up running! I'd see the gray haired lady in front of me, and that would push me to keep running. I'd hit a downhill stretch and it would push me to keep running. I'd try to stop for a second to catch my breath, and then Joe would push me to keep running. And to think, I had really only planned to walk the entire 5k!

Oh, after I had oh so carefully put together the 5k playlist, I read on the race guidelines that headphones weren't allowed. I reluctantly left my ipod at home...only to get there and see that everyone else brought theirs! (are there no 5k police at these things??!)
*sigh*

Looks like I'll have to use that playlist for a walk this weekend instead.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

It's not just a safeword anymore

2007-09-26T17:54:00.000-04:00

How'd I spend my last day of vacation?
Why, making applesauce of course!

3 1/2 pounds of rome beauty apples; peeled, cored, sliced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1/8 cup lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup water

Throw all ingredients in a big pot. Cover. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and cook for 40minutes.
Transfer to food processor and pulse until smooth.

Divided into 8 servings, approx 1/2 cup each, 2 points!

5k = 3.1. So why am I nervous?

2007-09-26T09:58:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is my first 5k. I am suddenly fearful that every measurement I've taken of my regular walking route is only 2 miles instead of 4.5. I am just sure that the entire 5k will be a 20% incline. Or perhaps I'm only anxious because I'll be wearing spandex in public.

I'm trying really hard to just focus on the free t-shirt and the perfection of the 5k playlist. I'm sure that after my 4-hour hiking (mis)adventure on Saturday, tomorrow's walk/run will be a piece of cake! (that means "easy", not followed by a celebratory piece of literal cake)

The playlist for my 5k works out like so:

1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

This song has been my #2 playlist spot following KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" for at least the past 3 months. I had to drop KT for the race. The pace is just too slow and only one warm-up song should suffice. I'm not sure I could get my groove on if I dropped them both, however.

2. Get Up Offa That Thing - James Brown

Sure to turn a regular walk into a bounce.

3. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

I've been digging Amy since a friend sent me Rehab a year ago. "he walks away, the sun goes down", this tune makes me feel like i'm on a mission!

4. Suspicious Minds - Dwight Yoakam

This one jumps me up to 124bpm, but Dwight makes me not even notice. Plus, Joe digs this one, so it stays.

5. Crazy on You - Heart

Nothing gets me more motivated than Ann Wilson's voice. Damn.

6. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

I pray that I'm climbing a hill during this segment of the playlist. This song was made for that purpose, I'm sure of it!

7. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

A fast-paced, yet mellow song to trick the mind.

8. Get Back - The Beatles

For my Joe-Joe.

9. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani

After realizing that she's only nearly every playlist I make, I think she must be my girl crush.

10. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

This one could easily be replaced at any moment. I've just heard it too many times. But still, a good solid motivating walking song.

11. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones

I feel the need for a break after the last few songs. And another bonus, this one gives me my daily recommended intake of cowbell.

12. Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel

Ahh yes, the ear-slicing classic. Hark?! Is that more cowbell I hear??!

13. Lose Control - Missy Elliott

Will probably be on every walking playlist I ever make. I never get tired of it.

14. The Way You Move - Outkast

Showin' a little ATL love.

15. Shallow - Ryan Adams

It just wouldn't be right to not include him.

16. It's My Life - Gwen Stefani

I've always loved this remake, even more than the original. Sometimes the remake is just better!

Original:

This was me a year ago. I resemble a pumpkin!

The playlist above will run one hour and 33 seconds.

Fall...

2007-09-24T13:51:00.000-04:00

Here's my harvest from yesterday.
Any ideas as to what I can do with all these Rome Beauty's?

(less of me will be) Home for the Holidays

2007-09-24T13:39:00.000-04:00

13 pounds is the goal.
December 25th is the deadline.

But I think it may be easier to reach that goal than it is posting this 'before' pic of myself...

ugh.

Thanks to Joe for taking this wonderfully blurry full-length shot in case I ever need or want to claim anonimoty on those thighs.

Difference a Day Makes

2007-09-19T13:11:00.000-04:00

The scales were kind to me this morning. I'm still two days from weigh in, but if this morning's numbers are a sign of what's to come, I will be one happy camper come Friday! The downside is that a group of girls from work had a lunch shower thing at the worst place possible for me to try and eat healthy - chinese buffet. Ugh...

I *did* manage to stay away from the fried stuff, all of the sweet and sour and sesame nuggets that I love so much, and that right-to-my-ass-fried rice. I went for the veggie/unbreaded chicken dishes instead, a side of fruit, and only had a couple of bites of that decadent chocolate cake one of the girls picked up on the way (cake is made by the devil, I'm sure of it). Still though, I'm feeling unsettled. As if I need to be walking the rest of the day, at least to Brazil, to avoid a gain tomorrow. I'm just hoping that a moderate walk and 0-point soup will do the trick tonight.

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! 2 more days of work and I'll be on vacation for 5 days. Joe and I are loading up the pups and taking off to the mountains for a weekend of grillin', a little bit of hiking, and just plain doin' nothing! I cannot WAIT, as evidenced by my grocery list and menu I've already made for the three days we're there.

On a side note, I've been a non-smoker for 10 days. I've been tempted, but it gets easier with each day that passes. The next 10 will be easier for sure.

5 Miles Playlist

2007-09-18T19:28:00.000-04:00

The walking shoes are out. The playlist has become an art. I've logged 15 miles in the past four days and quite frankly I'm having a hard time making myself NOT walk tonight (my aching legs tell me otherwise). These cool evenings bringing the first signs of fall don't help the urge either.

The scales have barely budged, so I'm hoping this does the trick. That goal for October is now quite unrealistic, but my body is definitely changing. I'm starting to really see a difference. FEEL a difference. But why does it always have to disappear from the chest area FIRST? Sheesh!

Day One

2007-09-09T21:58:00.000-04:00

You may recall my 'mayday' post from earlier this summer in which my attempt at being a non-smoker (again) failed miserably. And boy did I. It's been all downhill from there. You know the pattern if you've ever tried to quit smoking and started back. You have one with a glass of wine one night. Just one. No big deal. Then you're having one with every glass of wine. Then you're sick of bumming off friends, so you break down and buy a pack. And soon enough, you're back to your x packs a day, or more, regretting that decision you made after glass of wine you had on that beautiful afternoon in May on Jaimee's patio.

I've been in a funk - or depression - ever since that day. I don't know if it's that decision or the cigarettes themselves that cause it. But either way, it has to stop. I have too many things in my life that are wonderful to be sad every single day.

And so, today was my first whole day without a smoke. I'm sticking to the same method that worked so easily the first time, Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking". I plan to read it and re-read it. I plan to make notes and highlight lines for easy reference later on as I wish I had done the first time. You, my faithful reader, might even be forced to read passages.

I'm planning to do whatever takes, without repeating my first mistake of doubting the very important rule of "there is no such thing as one cigarette".

I want to be free!!!

Before

2007-09-03T22:39:00.001-04:00

How come it never quite turns out like the picture in the magazine?
*sigh*

Oh well. Happy 34 to me.

The Holy Trinity and the Big 2-0

2007-08-30T09:18:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I weigh in.

No big deal. I do it every Friday like clockwork. Actually, every morning, after I pee (don't laugh - sometimes it makes a half pound difference!), before I put on an ounce of clothing, I step up on those cold, glass digital scales to check my progress. Sometimes I even jump on before bedtime to estimate what the number will be the next morning. Hell, I probably get my weekly cardio from scale hopping alone.

But tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow I anticipate the loss that will - finally - put me at my 10% loss goal and the 20 pound loss total mark.

Hooray me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it's been slow. It's taken me since March. I've been stuck at the 177/175 mark since July 4th. But I'm a firm believer in losing slow. It's much easier to keep off when your body has time to adjust. People are finally starting to notice a difference and that's very encouraging. When they ask me how I've done it, I tell them about the holy trinity of my weight loss: Walking, Water, and Weight Watchers. (Wait...is that 4 W's or 3? Shit!!)

There are alot of weight loss programs out there, but I know that Weight Watchers is the only plan that will teach me how to eat normal, grocery store foods and keep off the weight once I've reached my goal. I have friends who've tried low-carb, low-fat, low-food-altogether diets only to gain it all back, plus some. It makes no sense to teach yourself how to eat on a diet that isn't practical and won't allow the foods you love. You're just setting yourself for failure. I'd much rather go with a plan that is realistic and fits the way I live.

I have a few mini-goals I've set for myself to keep on track this fall.

I have some shopping money I've set aside for when I reach 167 pounds. That's about 6 pounds away from my current weight. And I can't wait to buy new jeans!!

Joe and I are attending his cousin's wedding on October 20th. I'd like to be at 160 by then. That's 13 pounds in 7 weeks. (I better get my walkin' shoes out!)

There's a 5k I plan to participate in next month, so what better motivation to step it back up to 12 miles a week! And besides, I can't exactly look like an out of shape loser when I'm the co-captain of our team. It's my first anythingK. Should be fun.

Wish me luck!

Befuddled

2007-08-29T13:36:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, as I sat prepared to hand over the $2k for cataract surgery on our dog (that we love so much we'd pay 10x that for) - this woman comes out of the weave/braid store next door carrying her son - who is wearing the now infamous number 7 Falcon jersey.

I just don't understand it.

They Say It's Your Birthday!

2007-08-20T11:14:00.001-04:00

Well, not quite. But I have an early present...

Looks like I'll be making my own cake. And I won't mind one little bit.

If anyone needs to borrow the biggest cupcake in the world pan, just give me a ring.

Get this wedding over with already!

2007-08-17T15:31:00.000-04:00

I'm ready for the honeymoon!!!

Blog about Blogs

2007-08-17T15:20:00.000-04:00

A bit of downtime at work is a welcome change. I've had time to do all the shopping my budget will allow, print out half the weight watchers recipe collection from their website, catch up with a few very old friends, start a rough plan of a wedding and honeymoon, and read about a hundred blog entries from various sites I've grown fond of.

Before things pick up around here, I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone - share my blogroll with my faithful two readers AND post a blog entry all at the same time! Yes, actually, I am a genius.

You'll find my blogroll here!

Mayday! Mayday!

2007-06-28T15:34:00.000-04:00

Shit!
How could I have done something stupid like buy a pack of smokes, when I had gone for four months without even ONE! And then suddenly, I feel completely out of control. Hanging on by a thread, even.

Fuck!
How do I manage to always screw up a good thing?

I'm a sad panda.

:(

Here's Looking at You, Kid.

2007-06-01T11:19:00.001-04:00

Last night was a night of many firsts for me.

The first time I ever rode in a limo.

First time meeting Sean, the limo driver.

First visit to Piedmont Park.

First screen on the green.

And the first time I finally got to see Casablanca.

Most fun of all, was the first time I got to hang out with Jaimee, Joleen, Lynette, and Swathi all at once. Looks like the beginning of beautiful friendships!

Tiny Pants!!

2007-06-01T09:08:00.000-04:00

In an update on the weight loss front, I finally broke the 10 pound mark and am now at 13! I am pushing myself to run/walk at least 8 miles a week and that is helping tremendously. (wow, exercise is a good thing...who knew??!) I love shrinking out of my clothes and having to buy new ones!

I'm not quite as obsessed with points as I once was, but probably because I am now on auto-pilot and pretty much know what I can eat every day without doing the math on it. I get fuller faster and with smaller portions, so it's not nearly the struggle as it was several weeks ago. And seriously, I want to marry whoever decided to make the Hostess 100-calorie packs so that they are packed with 5g of fiber. 1 point cupcakes might be my salvation.

Eating Points

2007-04-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

It's been a couple of months since I joined Weight Watchers. As of today, I've lost 7.5 pounds. None of them were easy, either. I'm averaging about a pound a week - which is slow, but steady, with the exception of this week - goddamn birthday cake.

It's hard to stay motivated at this rate. I'm hoping that my salvation will come in the form of a huge loss this week resulting from an almost flawless weekend staying on track. I'll be happy with 2 pounds. I'd just like to finally hit that 10-pound mark. It feels like I've been hovering around 7 for years now.

Sigh.

I THINK I CAN. I THINK I CAN. I THINK I CAN.

Come Put Your Records On

2007-04-10T22:31:00.000-04:00

Jaimee and Swathi's brilliant rap remake of a Korn classic.

What do you get when you invite a handful of friends to collaborate on a mix cd for the evening's entertainment?

Here's what!

1. Pussy Liquor - Rob Zombie
2. Smell of Incense - Tiamat
3. All In The Family - Korn
4. Let It Beast - dj BC and the Beastles
5. Rehab - Amy Winehouse*
6. Look After You - The Fray
7. American Baby - Dave Matthews Band
8. Свинка-свинка - Ногу Свело (aka Piggy Piggy)
9. Istanbul - They Might Be Giants
10. Nothing Left - DJ Icey & Orbital
11. Tears and Rain - James Blunt
12. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
13. Titanium - Kraftwerk
14. J-Lo vs K-Co vs S-Wo - Lenlow
15. Virus Alert - Weird Al
16. Nothing Left to Lose - Matt Kearney
17. Silent House - Dixie Chicks
18. Rainbo Conversation - Stereolab
19. Something Left to Say - Roman Candle*
20. DRH - ??
21. Vermillion, Pt. 2 - Slipknot
22. Serenity - Godsmack
23. Ocean Size Love - Leigh Nash
24. Stoned - Lewis Taylor*
25. Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

* = contributed by yours truly