melnhardy

My T-day weekend didn’t go quite as I expected.  I went home Wednesday night and wasn’t quite feeling good, but just thought I was tired and stressed about the next day.  Woke up Thursday morning with the beginning of a head cold that is still with me today.   I went to dinner at mom’s with a definite plan in mind and stuck to it. 

I also had plan for the rest of the weekend, which the cold both helped and hindered.  The good thing about the cold is that food didn’t taste as good which also kept me from over-eating all weekend.  The bad part is that I wasn’t able to exercise like I wanted, which was to add at least one extra workout to the weekend.  I was able to stick to my normal exercise routine though.  As a result, I managed to get through Thanksgiving while losing 3 pounds this week.

That makes a current total of 44 pounds lost.  I am now only 20 away from my mini-goal, which I hope to reach by 2/1/09 when I leave for my snorkeling vacation in Roatan.  This would also place me more than halfway from my goal.

I have noticed so many changes in myself and my attitude about this journey, all of which are positive,  that I know now that while it may not happen as I planned or as quick as I want, I will succeed this time.  I will reach my goal weight, not when I want, but when it is right for my body and I’m actually okay with that.  

My body, while not yet bikini-ready, is a beautiful work in progress.  For the first time in my life, I feel at peace with my current weight, knowing that it is only temporary.  Of course, it could just be the cold-medicine talking. 

Hope you all are having a wonderful day.

These go without saying but sometimes we all need a little reminder:

    Weight Watchers has 10 ideas for how to get through Thanksgiving and the holidays without eating too much and feeling rotten. Keep them in mind when you’re faced with the buffet: 
    Slow down. Eat slowly and savor every bite. 
    Plan to indulge. Savor the special dishes you love instead of popping cheddar cheese cubes into your mouth before the meal. 
    Don’t starve yourself beforehand. You’ll be more likely to gobble up everything. 
    Be creative. Practice saying “no.” 
    Drink moderately. Use lowor no-calorie beverages as mixers and alternate alcoholic beverages with lowcalorie drinks or water. 
    Bag it. Remember there is always tomorrow, but if you won’t be able to sleep knowing there’s half a pie in the kitchen, wrap portions for your guests to take home. 
    Lighten it up. Use light recipes for your favorite dishes. 
    Get moving. There are more ways to spend time with family on Thanksgiving than sitting around eating. 
    Be thankful for making good choices. Start the holidays mindful of moderation. 
    Control emotional eating.

Find ways to relax and focus on your overall goals.

Down another 2 pounds, but more importantly…I ENTERED 1-DERLAND.  Sorry for yelling, but I am so excited about that.  It has been a long time since my body has been in this territory, and I’ve been flirting with it for a few weeks now, but I finally made it officially on my weigh-in.

So, ’nuff about that.  I ran into a fellow Buddy Slimmer this weekend and we were comparing “snack notes.”  He suggested I post a few that I’ve found on my blog, so here they are:

Skinny Cow Fudge Bars - 1 fudge bar = 1 pt.  (just as creamy and chocolaty as any full fat/sugar bar)

Freezer Pops - 6 pops = 2 pts.  These are the ones in the long plastic tube.  My hubby and I get the 6 flavor variety pack, so all six flavors are only 2 pts.

One final thought/question.  This is for anyone over the age of 35 who has lost a significant amount of weight.  Does your skin “snap” back?  I have a turkey neck going that wasn’t there a few months ago.  I know it’s from losing weight, but am concerned it will stay like this.  I can’t exactly afford plastic surgery and don’t want to walk around looking like some kind of human shar-pei.  Any suggestions/comments?

I am also working on a recipe that would be a free chocolate cookie.  First batch is okay, but I know I can do better.  Once I have it perfected, I will post it.

Well, at weigh-in (Monday), I was up one pound, but the next day, that pound was gone along with 2 of his evil little friends.  I pretty much expected it since my mom took us out to dinner Friday night.  I had a 1/2 fish log, hot slaw and home fried potatoes.  Man was it good, but suprisingly, Saturday morning I was right back on track.  Then….Sunday night, my hubby decided to celebrate my step-son finding a job (just in the nick of time too!) by bringing Popeye’s chicken home.  How on earth is anyone supposed to resist Popeye’s chicken???
My hubby (the absolute BEST man on the planet) told me last night that he would just eat sandwiches while I eat my Smart Ones/Lean Cuisine frozen meals this weekend, to help offset Turkey day.  I have to say that the first few weeks of this “diet” were rougher on him than me, but he has really stepped-up and is helping me more often than hurting my weight loss.  I think part of that is that now my progress is so visible that he wants me to help me succeed.
Anyway, hope everyone is having a great week and I wish us all success next week!

Okay, sorry I have not posted sooner, but have been a little busy this week.  Weigh-in on Monday was fine, lost another 2 pounds.  The rest of the week has gone to pot though.  I have not done ANYTHING differently from the last 2 weeks when I lost 2 pounds, except that 2 points have been dropped off my daily allowance.  I have even stayed 2-3 points under my daily allowance on Wed. & Thurs. and I have gained a freaking pound!  GRRRRRR!

I know, I know, I shouldn’t weigh myself every day.  I can deal with staying the same, but to gain 1 pound….    I realize this is a normal part of the weight loss process, but dang it, it’s still frustrating!

Oh well, I’m not letting it derail what I’ve done so far.  As long as I stay on plan, I know I will eventually reach my destination…but this is one time, I don’t want to take the scenic route. 

Until next time.

((HUGS))
Melissa

I seriously need your opinion.  I have been walking the track below for several weeks now.   I start at the left end (between the tree and the blue rectangle on the yellow portion) and do a “figure 8″ pattern twice. 

Large track (orange): 1.0 Mile+ (5,475 feet)

Small Track (yellow): .8 Mile (4,481 feet)

If I walk a figure 8 of this track 2 times, how many miles would you say I have walked?

Please tell me what you think.

I lost another 2 pounds to make my total weight lost 35 pounds.  5 more pounds and I get me second reward.  Every 20 pounds gone, I reward myself with an expensive ball of cashmere yarn to make a shawl once I reach my ultimate goal of 100 (maybe 120) pounds lost.

I had a couple really nice compliments from co-workers this week.  Yesterday, I was told I look so thin (from behind) and then again today, I was told that from behind, it doesn’t even look like me.  So, this means that only my backside is losing weight.  Now if I can just get rid of that “stubborn belly fat.”

Now that the weather is turning colder, I’m finding it harder to stay motivated for my workouts.  Once I’m into it, it’s not so bad, but I’m finding it harder to get started.  Both (especially) morning and evening.  Is anyone else experiencing this?

I am so happy.  TOM is gone and he took the hungries with him.  Goodbye and good riddance! 
I did manage to get through yesterday without going over on my points.  Thanks to everyone for “listening” to my rant.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Melissa

Another 2 pounds gone.  Yeah me. 

Although, I had a moment of panic yesterday morning.  Last week I worked really, really hard to lose extra weight because I knew I had a family reunion to go to this past Saturday.  I figured I would try to lose at least 4 pounds by Saturday so I could enjoy myself @ the reunion.  This way, I would still have a loss for the week.  So, Saturday morning comes, I do my workout, get on the scale and I’m 4 pounds down.  Ate a light breakfast, went to the reunion, and enjoyed myself without over-indulging.

I get up Sunday morning, do my workout and then get on the scale.  All four pounds were back!  I was so bummed.  I mean it’s not like I went overboard.  I had expected to gain a pound or two back on Saturday, but FOUR POUNDS in one freakin’ day!?!?  Needless to say, I was bummed all day.  My hubby, step-son, and I went for a mile walk at the park and then visited a friend.  Afterwards, we had decided to go to MD for McFlurries (I planned for and had a fruit n’ yogut parfait).  The whole way home, I have to hear how it was the best McFlurry ever and how ther girl making them had put extra stuff in it.  GRRRRRR! 

 I swear, I think they were messing with my head because last night, they had Spumoni ice cream and once again, “This is the best Spumoni I’ve ever had.  It even has whole pistachios in it.”  Double GRRRRRR!

 All I kept thinking all day, was, “I gained 4 freakin’ pounds in one day, while these two are eating this junk and not gaining a pound.  B#$@&#d’s ”

Of course, it was a great relief when I hopped on the scale this morning and 2 of those 4 pounds were gone…just as I had planned.

I am currently 7 pounds behind on my personal schedule to lose 10 pounds per month.  That gives me 5 weeks to lose 17 pounds.  We have no family get togethers or any other functions until Thanksgiving, so now I’ll just have to play “catch-up”.