Monday, March 31, 2008
Ate too much...
Hey Amigos,
Well, I pretty much blew through this week's allotment of 35 extra points, all yesterday. I started out by meeting Therese at Heinemann's for coffee. By coffee I mean breakfast. I made good choices, but I also ate every bite and it was a pretty generous plate of stuff. So then I went home and chilled, and met some Green Acres girls at Habanero's. I actually was not too crazy about my choice of lunch. I had planned everything prior but it turns out that the dish I wanted is only a weekday thing, so they steered me in the direction of something else that was just...the individual flavors were good but the all over experience wasn't so hot. Part of the problem was that I was expecting strictly poblano peppers, but poblano was just the tip of the iceberg. And I can't handle bell peppers. No sir.
The guac was great, though. I could live off that stuff, if it was possible for one to actually live off it. And I kept my chip consumption to a minimum, which was no small task. What helped a lot was the company, who kept me occupied and laughing. I spent the rest of the afternoon volunteering, which was 4 hours straight of dealing with John Q. Public. NOT easy, amigos, not easy. And by the time I got home I was ravenous, and essentially vacuumed up an array of food. Nothing was bad, per se. I just ate too much of it. But I did calculate everything, honestly (I mean, who would I be kidding, anyway), and am willing to pay for my excess of yesterday.
The good thing is I don't feel discouraged. I just got up this morning and went about my normal business as I would any other day. See, my pattern oftentimes is if I have one bad day, I'll stretch it into two, or more...and then just throw in the towel eventually. But the fact that I know I'll be getting weighed on Thursday is incentive. The fact that I've had such success is incentive. The fact that not every day is going to be a day where I'm faced with heavy duty volunteering, plus 2 meals eaten out, is incentive to just keep moving.
So yeah, I'm not discouraged. Not one bit.
Let's see, what else is going on. I don't know...work is work. I'm at one of those stages where my students are out pacing me and I have to be on my toes every minute to make sure they have enough to do. Normally it's not an issue, but I happen to have all exceptionally good students this semester and boy do they keep me working.
My cold is hanging on but I've just about licked it. Why does the snot and cough part stick around so long? I actually feel fine, but you wouldn't know it if you saw me.
I decided against getting George Michael tickets. If you want presale tickets you have to join his fan club, which costs $40! My hairdresser and I were talking about splitting it, but I soon tossed that idea out. I mean, there's $20 for the lousy fan club that I'd only join to get the tickets, that themselves will probably cost at LEAST $90, then there's getting down to Chicago and I just decided that I don't need that hassle.
If I was meant to see George Michael, he'd be coming to Milwaukee. And who knows? Maybe he'll add a show. That's what happened with the Police reunion tour. I'd tossed around the idea of going to see them in Minneapolis or Chicago, but it was an incredible pain, no tickets together, cheapest seats were nosebleeds for $80 or something. Well, no matter because they're coming here in July, and I got tickets already through my friend's uncle who is an events coordinator for the venue. So, maybe I'll get to see old George yet. And if not, I'll live. I'm not a big fan of huge arena shows anyway. I like the intimate ones where you can see the bands you love up close and personal.
Well, I pretty much blew through this week's allotment of 35 extra points, all yesterday. I started out by meeting Therese at Heinemann's for coffee. By coffee I mean breakfast. I made good choices, but I also ate every bite and it was a pretty generous plate of stuff. So then I went home and chilled, and met some Green Acres girls at Habanero's. I actually was not too crazy about my choice of lunch. I had planned everything prior but it turns out that the dish I wanted is only a weekday thing, so they steered me in the direction of something else that was just...the individual flavors were good but the all over experience wasn't so hot. Part of the problem was that I was expecting strictly poblano peppers, but poblano was just the tip of the iceberg. And I can't handle bell peppers. No sir.
The guac was great, though. I could live off that stuff, if it was possible for one to actually live off it. And I kept my chip consumption to a minimum, which was no small task. What helped a lot was the company, who kept me occupied and laughing. I spent the rest of the afternoon volunteering, which was 4 hours straight of dealing with John Q. Public. NOT easy, amigos, not easy. And by the time I got home I was ravenous, and essentially vacuumed up an array of food. Nothing was bad, per se. I just ate too much of it. But I did calculate everything, honestly (I mean, who would I be kidding, anyway), and am willing to pay for my excess of yesterday.
The good thing is I don't feel discouraged. I just got up this morning and went about my normal business as I would any other day. See, my pattern oftentimes is if I have one bad day, I'll stretch it into two, or more...and then just throw in the towel eventually. But the fact that I know I'll be getting weighed on Thursday is incentive. The fact that I've had such success is incentive. The fact that not every day is going to be a day where I'm faced with heavy duty volunteering, plus 2 meals eaten out, is incentive to just keep moving.
So yeah, I'm not discouraged. Not one bit.
Let's see, what else is going on. I don't know...work is work. I'm at one of those stages where my students are out pacing me and I have to be on my toes every minute to make sure they have enough to do. Normally it's not an issue, but I happen to have all exceptionally good students this semester and boy do they keep me working.
My cold is hanging on but I've just about licked it. Why does the snot and cough part stick around so long? I actually feel fine, but you wouldn't know it if you saw me.
I decided against getting George Michael tickets. If you want presale tickets you have to join his fan club, which costs $40! My hairdresser and I were talking about splitting it, but I soon tossed that idea out. I mean, there's $20 for the lousy fan club that I'd only join to get the tickets, that themselves will probably cost at LEAST $90, then there's getting down to Chicago and I just decided that I don't need that hassle.
If I was meant to see George Michael, he'd be coming to Milwaukee. And who knows? Maybe he'll add a show. That's what happened with the Police reunion tour. I'd tossed around the idea of going to see them in Minneapolis or Chicago, but it was an incredible pain, no tickets together, cheapest seats were nosebleeds for $80 or something. Well, no matter because they're coming here in July, and I got tickets already through my friend's uncle who is an events coordinator for the venue. So, maybe I'll get to see old George yet. And if not, I'll live. I'm not a big fan of huge arena shows anyway. I like the intimate ones where you can see the bands you love up close and personal.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Quick Update
My total is now 14.4 pounds. This thing is really working.
A couple things have been instrumental. I'm eating breakfast daily, and bringing lunch to work. I'm also carefully planning my trips to the grocery store, and only going about 1 time per week (I was going every night, practically, and just eating whatever I could get my hands on). Also, I have to admit that some of the weight watchers ice cream and snacky things are really, really helpful.
So, yeah, good meeting, good loss, all around good.
A couple things have been instrumental. I'm eating breakfast daily, and bringing lunch to work. I'm also carefully planning my trips to the grocery store, and only going about 1 time per week (I was going every night, practically, and just eating whatever I could get my hands on). Also, I have to admit that some of the weight watchers ice cream and snacky things are really, really helpful.
So, yeah, good meeting, good loss, all around good.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Another red-letter day here...
Hola Amigos,
I try not to be a huge complainer, but today's just full of stuff to complain about.
First off, I can't taste or smell anything. Usually on the 4th day of a cold I lose both senses. This is a regular occurrence for me so I'm not surprised, but boy does it stink. Or at least it would if I could smell. I knew this had happened when I brushed my teeth this morning. If you can't taste Colgate you know something's up. So I made some odorless coffee and didn't put in any soy creamer since why would I waste it when I can't taste how good it makes my coffee. I ate my regular oatmeal, although it could have been a bowl of wallpaper paste for all I knew. The only other thing I've eaten today was a little container of applesauce (or more wallpaper paste). You just don't want to eat, since all you're doing is chewing some tasteless blob. Does this happen to you, readers? If not, you're so lucky!!! I still get hungry, so I eat. But I take no pleasure in it.
Then I had a run in with someone from our facilities services department. I won't bore you with the details, it just started my day off ALL wrong. Or more wrong than if I'd just lost my senses of taste and smell.
Then we get a message that there's a possible water main break on one side of our building and that they may shut off the water, which was followed moments later by an announcement that they had indeed done that very thing. So, if I need to use the bathroom I can go up to the second floor, through one side of the entire library, over the bridge cafe through to the other side of the library. The libraries combined span a good city block, and I'm about as far away from the closest working bathroom as a person can be and not be outside. Another option is to put my coat on and walk outside and over to the engineering building, which actually sounds like not such a bad idea.
Mind you, I actually don't mind having to walk over to the other side to use the bathroom. My problem is that I'm a big water drinker. I make a habit of drinking at least a 24 oz bottle throughout the day, so I need to use the bathroom on a regular basis! So now I'm rationing my water so I don't spend the entire day going back and forth to the bathroom.
And I get weighed in tonight. I don't exactly want to be retaining water when I step on the scale!!!
So, yeah, there's some strangeness going on with me today. I'm not mad or in a bad mood. It just could have been a bit better of a day.
But it could have been a lot worse. I have lost my senses of taste and smell at really inopportune times, including Christmas day one year, my brother's wedding and when we were doing taste bud experiments in high school biology. And I'm incredibly grateful to know that my sense of taste will return in another day or two, so all is not lost.
Now I need to decide what I'm going to eat for lunch. If you can call this eating!
I try not to be a huge complainer, but today's just full of stuff to complain about.
First off, I can't taste or smell anything. Usually on the 4th day of a cold I lose both senses. This is a regular occurrence for me so I'm not surprised, but boy does it stink. Or at least it would if I could smell. I knew this had happened when I brushed my teeth this morning. If you can't taste Colgate you know something's up. So I made some odorless coffee and didn't put in any soy creamer since why would I waste it when I can't taste how good it makes my coffee. I ate my regular oatmeal, although it could have been a bowl of wallpaper paste for all I knew. The only other thing I've eaten today was a little container of applesauce (or more wallpaper paste). You just don't want to eat, since all you're doing is chewing some tasteless blob. Does this happen to you, readers? If not, you're so lucky!!! I still get hungry, so I eat. But I take no pleasure in it.
Then I had a run in with someone from our facilities services department. I won't bore you with the details, it just started my day off ALL wrong. Or more wrong than if I'd just lost my senses of taste and smell.
Then we get a message that there's a possible water main break on one side of our building and that they may shut off the water, which was followed moments later by an announcement that they had indeed done that very thing. So, if I need to use the bathroom I can go up to the second floor, through one side of the entire library, over the bridge cafe through to the other side of the library. The libraries combined span a good city block, and I'm about as far away from the closest working bathroom as a person can be and not be outside. Another option is to put my coat on and walk outside and over to the engineering building, which actually sounds like not such a bad idea.
Mind you, I actually don't mind having to walk over to the other side to use the bathroom. My problem is that I'm a big water drinker. I make a habit of drinking at least a 24 oz bottle throughout the day, so I need to use the bathroom on a regular basis! So now I'm rationing my water so I don't spend the entire day going back and forth to the bathroom.
And I get weighed in tonight. I don't exactly want to be retaining water when I step on the scale!!!
So, yeah, there's some strangeness going on with me today. I'm not mad or in a bad mood. It just could have been a bit better of a day.
But it could have been a lot worse. I have lost my senses of taste and smell at really inopportune times, including Christmas day one year, my brother's wedding and when we were doing taste bud experiments in high school biology. And I'm incredibly grateful to know that my sense of taste will return in another day or two, so all is not lost.
Now I need to decide what I'm going to eat for lunch. If you can call this eating!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Feelin' icky...
Hola Amigos,
I figured I hadn't posted in a while, so I'll let you know whassup. Whassup you ask? Not much.
I caught a nasty cold that's settled in my head and its environs and it's not fun. I'm snot central right now, plus I have a persistent tickle in my throat that makes me clear it regularly, which I know must be annoying to my coworkers (yes I'm at work) because it sure as hell annoys me when one of them is doing it.
Let me backtrack for a second. Before anyone gets bent out of shape that I'm blogging while at work, I take essentially every lunch at my desk, during which we are allowed to do things like crosswords, email, etc. I used to go out to lunch regularly, but when some friends left I just stopped doing that, which is for the best and I think I've saved a buttload of money.
Anyway, so yeah, I have this cold. It's not the end of the world, it just sort of pisses me off. I made it through the whole of winter with nothing, and bam, here we are in March, first days of spring, and I'm sick.
I'm not sick enough to stay home, mind you. I usually don't stay home when I have something like this. If I'm bleeding out of my eyes or projectile vomiting I'll stay home. Even if I have a fever I'll stay home (because those things mess with my brain), but right now I feel relatively OK, my mind is clear, and I've got work to do. So, here I am.
On another note, I found out last night that what I'd hoped for for many, many years is going to happen. George Michael is touring the US!
I'll let that sink in for a minute.
Yes, I'm a George Michael fan, and I'll defend myself and him with gusto if anyone challenges his talent. I'm not a Wham fan, OK? I'm a George Michael fan. Not a huge fan, but I think he has a fantastic voice, he looks great, he can dance, his music is fun. So I'm going to try and go. Right now MKE isn't on his roster, but he'll be in Chicago. I do not care for going to shows in Chicago but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.
How, may you ask, does a punk-alterna-metal-indie fan like me become smitten with the likes of George Michael? Well, in a post from way back when I wrote a bit about my musical tastes and their vast range, and, well, that's where GM falls in. Back in college Wham was very big. I like their song Freedom but mostly I could take or leave them. Well, Careless Whisper is actually kind of good...and so is Everything She Wants...anyway, then Faith came out, and I don't care what anyone says, that album kicks butt. I used to go out to the bars dancing and I Want Your Sex was big. Then I remember once being in a store and Faith came on and a bunch of folks (myself included) all sang the "Baby!" part that comes after a pause toward the end of the song, and it was funny. It was just that kind of album, catchy, fun, and he sounds just fantastic.
I never listened to him much after Listen Without Prejudice (a highly underrated work) but I've always liked him and thought a lot of his talent. I don't care about the wanking in a public restroom, or his disputes with record companies or anything like that. The guy can sing. Nuff said.
Not much else is going on. WW is going very well. I weigh in tomorrow. Not quite sure what the scale is going to say then. It's been a bit of a week for me, being easter and all and I did indulge myself, but all within the program, thank you very much. So I consider that a success, whether I've lost weight or not.
I must sign off now. Back to whatever it is I do!
I figured I hadn't posted in a while, so I'll let you know whassup. Whassup you ask? Not much.
I caught a nasty cold that's settled in my head and its environs and it's not fun. I'm snot central right now, plus I have a persistent tickle in my throat that makes me clear it regularly, which I know must be annoying to my coworkers (yes I'm at work) because it sure as hell annoys me when one of them is doing it.
Let me backtrack for a second. Before anyone gets bent out of shape that I'm blogging while at work, I take essentially every lunch at my desk, during which we are allowed to do things like crosswords, email, etc. I used to go out to lunch regularly, but when some friends left I just stopped doing that, which is for the best and I think I've saved a buttload of money.
Anyway, so yeah, I have this cold. It's not the end of the world, it just sort of pisses me off. I made it through the whole of winter with nothing, and bam, here we are in March, first days of spring, and I'm sick.
I'm not sick enough to stay home, mind you. I usually don't stay home when I have something like this. If I'm bleeding out of my eyes or projectile vomiting I'll stay home. Even if I have a fever I'll stay home (because those things mess with my brain), but right now I feel relatively OK, my mind is clear, and I've got work to do. So, here I am.
On another note, I found out last night that what I'd hoped for for many, many years is going to happen. George Michael is touring the US!
I'll let that sink in for a minute.
Yes, I'm a George Michael fan, and I'll defend myself and him with gusto if anyone challenges his talent. I'm not a Wham fan, OK? I'm a George Michael fan. Not a huge fan, but I think he has a fantastic voice, he looks great, he can dance, his music is fun. So I'm going to try and go. Right now MKE isn't on his roster, but he'll be in Chicago. I do not care for going to shows in Chicago but a girl has to do what a girl has to do.
How, may you ask, does a punk-alterna-metal-indie fan like me become smitten with the likes of George Michael? Well, in a post from way back when I wrote a bit about my musical tastes and their vast range, and, well, that's where GM falls in. Back in college Wham was very big. I like their song Freedom but mostly I could take or leave them. Well, Careless Whisper is actually kind of good...and so is Everything She Wants...anyway, then Faith came out, and I don't care what anyone says, that album kicks butt. I used to go out to the bars dancing and I Want Your Sex was big. Then I remember once being in a store and Faith came on and a bunch of folks (myself included) all sang the "Baby!" part that comes after a pause toward the end of the song, and it was funny. It was just that kind of album, catchy, fun, and he sounds just fantastic.
I never listened to him much after Listen Without Prejudice (a highly underrated work) but I've always liked him and thought a lot of his talent. I don't care about the wanking in a public restroom, or his disputes with record companies or anything like that. The guy can sing. Nuff said.
Not much else is going on. WW is going very well. I weigh in tomorrow. Not quite sure what the scale is going to say then. It's been a bit of a week for me, being easter and all and I did indulge myself, but all within the program, thank you very much. So I consider that a success, whether I've lost weight or not.
I must sign off now. Back to whatever it is I do!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Great show!
I just had to pop in and tell you how great the show was yesterday. I had great company, and was so excited to finally see Stephen Malkmus live. I've loved him for years, from Pavement up to now, and seeing him was even better than I could have imagined.
The Pabst Theater is a wonderful venue for just about anything, and bands always sound fantastic there. I think that they like performing there because the theater is so beautiful, and the sound can't be beat. The audience was really enthusiastic and you could tell Malkmus and the Jicks were really getting into it. They played an extended encore (3 or 4 songs) that they hadn't planned on doing, which was just wonderful. Altogether a fantastic show. I'm so glad after all these years I finally got to see him!
I don't have any more shows in the immediate works, which is sort of a bummer. But I had a good run amigos. In the last year and a half I've seen Sufjan Stevens, Perry Farrell, Keb Mo, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, New Pornographers, Spoon, The Evens, Pink Martini and now Malkmus and the Jicks. Sheesh! The other cool thing? None of these shows, except for Pink Martini maybe, cost me more than $20. Such a deal!!! And the Evens (who were FABULOUS!) was only like 5 bucks! :) So I had a ton of fun for not a huge amount of cash. But you know what? These shows were all so good, I would have payed more. Everyone was so entertaining and just played their hearts out.
How I love, love love me some live music!
The Pabst Theater is a wonderful venue for just about anything, and bands always sound fantastic there. I think that they like performing there because the theater is so beautiful, and the sound can't be beat. The audience was really enthusiastic and you could tell Malkmus and the Jicks were really getting into it. They played an extended encore (3 or 4 songs) that they hadn't planned on doing, which was just wonderful. Altogether a fantastic show. I'm so glad after all these years I finally got to see him!
I don't have any more shows in the immediate works, which is sort of a bummer. But I had a good run amigos. In the last year and a half I've seen Sufjan Stevens, Perry Farrell, Keb Mo, The Decemberists, Of Montreal, New Pornographers, Spoon, The Evens, Pink Martini and now Malkmus and the Jicks. Sheesh! The other cool thing? None of these shows, except for Pink Martini maybe, cost me more than $20. Such a deal!!! And the Evens (who were FABULOUS!) was only like 5 bucks! :) So I had a ton of fun for not a huge amount of cash. But you know what? These shows were all so good, I would have payed more. Everyone was so entertaining and just played their hearts out.
How I love, love love me some live music!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Progress
Well Amigos, I'm down another 2.2 pounds. And I weighed myself a day earlier than normal so I figure that's probably at least a pound off. :) Nah, just kidding. I'm quite glad. I thought it might be more because I'm feeling it more, but hey, I'm just glad I'm going in the right direction. It's not a race or anything, just something I need to do.
I went to see my therapist beforehand, and it was so invigorating. He's been my therapist for, oh, maybe 10 years, probably more, and discussing my weight is a regular topic. So he was especially pleased to see I'd made progress, and I was especially pleased to tell him all about it.
I'd never say this was the easiest thing. The easiest thing is to buy and eat pre-made, packaged food, or drive-thru or frozen pizzas, and we know I can't do that. But I've been on the program 3 weeks and haven't really had a slip up except for the girl scout debacle. There's just something about this program that is working.
I returned a Christmas gift at Boston Store yesterday, and with the credit I bought myself 2 pair of earrings. They had a great selection of nickel free jewelry, because nickel drives me batty. That was pretty sweet! So I sort of rewarded myself yesterday.
I also went to Walgreens and bought a bunch of stickers. I love stickers. I intend on putting them on calendars to mark days when I've followed the program and successfully used and not abused my points. I won't say not go over because you sort of can do that with the extra 35 they give you for the week.
The good thing is, I know what constitutes a good day. I see lots of stickers in my future.
I went to see my therapist beforehand, and it was so invigorating. He's been my therapist for, oh, maybe 10 years, probably more, and discussing my weight is a regular topic. So he was especially pleased to see I'd made progress, and I was especially pleased to tell him all about it.
I'd never say this was the easiest thing. The easiest thing is to buy and eat pre-made, packaged food, or drive-thru or frozen pizzas, and we know I can't do that. But I've been on the program 3 weeks and haven't really had a slip up except for the girl scout debacle. There's just something about this program that is working.
I returned a Christmas gift at Boston Store yesterday, and with the credit I bought myself 2 pair of earrings. They had a great selection of nickel free jewelry, because nickel drives me batty. That was pretty sweet! So I sort of rewarded myself yesterday.
I also went to Walgreens and bought a bunch of stickers. I love stickers. I intend on putting them on calendars to mark days when I've followed the program and successfully used and not abused my points. I won't say not go over because you sort of can do that with the extra 35 they give you for the week.
The good thing is, I know what constitutes a good day. I see lots of stickers in my future.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
show last night
I've had a really good couple days here. Yesterday I was surprised by an email from one of my roommates from college. We've stayed in touch but the last several years it's been just Christmas cards, and that just isn't enough. I'm so glad she emailed, because if you want to stay in touch with me that's the best way to do it.
I'm not, nor have I ever been, a big fan of the telephone. Well, maybe for a while in high school, but mostly I don't like it. All that ringing and nonsense, and I'm not a particularly good telephone conversationalist, with the exception of maybe 2 people.
I think caller id is a great, if not the greatest, invention. :) And now since I have digital phone and cable the name pops up on my television (as long as it's on and I'm not watching a DVD). So that's pretty cool.
Anyway, my old roommate and I were commenting on how we feel old. I know I'm not really old to some, but boy do you ever start feeling the impact when one of your best friends' kids is going to college. I mean, that's the age she and I were when we met in the dorms 23 years ago... I've got friends with kids that old. And frankly, I don't FEEL much older than I did then.
So yesterday I went to see Pink Martini at the Pabst with my mom and my sister. It was sponsored by some group called 'queer life' so that will give you a clue to their main demographic. I'm not a fan, my sister and mom are, and they convinced me to go along. It was really quite good. They're not a group I'd listen to regularly, but seeing them live was definitely worth it.
Thursday I have another Pabst show and I'm just jumping out of my skin to see it. It's Stephen Malkmus and he used to be the frontman for Pavement who are among my favorite groups ever. I am really, really excited. I listen to Malkmus or Pavement all the dang time, and I absolutely love them. If you lived with me you'd probably grow very tired of his stuff, but I never do.
So far I'm doing pretty well this week on the old WW flex plan. Which reminds me, I need to input my breakfast and lunch for today. It's so nice to have that keep track of things for you. There's something about this program amigos. It seems to be doing the trick. Of course this is only my 4th week (or 3rd?) so take that with a grain of salt. Since I'm going to that show on Thursday night I'll have to miss that meeting, meaning I'll need to weigh in someplace else. That makes me a little nervous, being a new place and all, but it must be done!
I'm not, nor have I ever been, a big fan of the telephone. Well, maybe for a while in high school, but mostly I don't like it. All that ringing and nonsense, and I'm not a particularly good telephone conversationalist, with the exception of maybe 2 people.
I think caller id is a great, if not the greatest, invention. :) And now since I have digital phone and cable the name pops up on my television (as long as it's on and I'm not watching a DVD). So that's pretty cool.
Anyway, my old roommate and I were commenting on how we feel old. I know I'm not really old to some, but boy do you ever start feeling the impact when one of your best friends' kids is going to college. I mean, that's the age she and I were when we met in the dorms 23 years ago... I've got friends with kids that old. And frankly, I don't FEEL much older than I did then.
So yesterday I went to see Pink Martini at the Pabst with my mom and my sister. It was sponsored by some group called 'queer life' so that will give you a clue to their main demographic. I'm not a fan, my sister and mom are, and they convinced me to go along. It was really quite good. They're not a group I'd listen to regularly, but seeing them live was definitely worth it.
Thursday I have another Pabst show and I'm just jumping out of my skin to see it. It's Stephen Malkmus and he used to be the frontman for Pavement who are among my favorite groups ever. I am really, really excited. I listen to Malkmus or Pavement all the dang time, and I absolutely love them. If you lived with me you'd probably grow very tired of his stuff, but I never do.
So far I'm doing pretty well this week on the old WW flex plan. Which reminds me, I need to input my breakfast and lunch for today. It's so nice to have that keep track of things for you. There's something about this program amigos. It seems to be doing the trick. Of course this is only my 4th week (or 3rd?) so take that with a grain of salt. Since I'm going to that show on Thursday night I'll have to miss that meeting, meaning I'll need to weigh in someplace else. That makes me a little nervous, being a new place and all, but it must be done!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Another weird thing...
So I have another incident to join the pantheon of crap that happens to me.
So Sunday I'm very excited because my good friend from New York and I (he's the one I house and dog sit for) had our traditional trip to Beans and Barley. He's usually here a couple times a year and we always pick one weekend day to go. Our tradition continues with a trip to Sam's Club, which is always fun. So I pick him up around 8:00 and we're off to Beans.
So we'd just ordered and were chatting when a group of people were seated at the table next to us. We watched them filter in, and bringing up the rear was an older woman, 70s probably, well dressed, walked with a cane. She walks over and starts talking to me and my friend. She started out by saying "I noticed you when you came in and I don't know if anyone has ever told you about this but there's something going around and it's important that you know about it." I soon realized that she wasn't with the group who sat down at all, but she was just striking up a conversation with us. So I did what I usually do when dealing with people who are obviously a bit 'tetched' in the head, which is nod and smile and begin the ignoring process. But she just kept talking.
She goes on to say that women who experience rapid and extreme weight gain are very much in danger of developing a problem (don't remember what she called it) that doesn't turn up in regular blood testing. She thinks it's very important that I (me personally) get tested because my regular doctor won't know about it. I have to tell you amigos, I felt a mixture of anger and shame and downright shock. I've never been quite so insulted in my entire life. So, I muster up (amid my mortification) the words "I'm quite well."
She responds "Are you?" To which I respond "Yes, I'm quite well." I got an icy glare and she turned around and left. After a little conversation along the lines of "That was really weird" and whatnot, we get back to our breakfast and conversation. About 10 or 15 minutes later, this same woman approaches our table and tells me the following: "I know you think you you're alright but it's very important that you know that the clinic where you can get tested is the XXX clinic in Mequon. You need to remember that." And she turned and walked away.
At this point I was livid. I didn't engage her at all because she was old and had a couple screws loose, but this is one of my favorite restaurants, and I'm with one of my favorite people, and this woman rudely interrupted a perfectly good meal to discuss my obvious weight problem.
So I called our server over and told her about it. I said I didn't know if she is a regular here but she interrupted our meal twice to say some very offensive things (bear in mind I've mentioned about 1/8 of the actual conversation). Anyway, she made some comment about her being a 'regular' and that it was unusual, and she told her manager. Then the manager says that this has happened with someone on the waitstaff but never with a diner. So I mention that, all mental illness aside, this shouldn't have happened to me and I wanted them to know about it so it doesn't happen to someone else.
I have no doubt that somehow this person thought she was doing me a favor. But I can't tell you how that felt, to have someone single me out and feel the need to talk to me because I'm heavy, when I'm with a friend no less. I was ashamed and embarrassed (during the second conversation she was actually talking loud enough for people to start looking up) and really, really pissed. I felt angry and hurt. And there was something so defeating about it all, especially after I've been working so hard with weight watchers. All this woman did was remind me of my situation, and I felt terrible.
I wish it made me feel better knowing that she has some issues (who knows what those issues are--she looked and dressed normally and obviously has her act together well enough to bring herself to breakfast on a regular basis), but it really doesn't. It just doesn't.
Not to worry, I haven't let it bother me a whole lot subsequently, and I really did have a great day yesterday. And today's not too shabby either. So, yeah, I'm fine. I guess maybe now I'm mostly pissed off. And sadly I'm a little hesitant to go to Beans again...
So Sunday I'm very excited because my good friend from New York and I (he's the one I house and dog sit for) had our traditional trip to Beans and Barley. He's usually here a couple times a year and we always pick one weekend day to go. Our tradition continues with a trip to Sam's Club, which is always fun. So I pick him up around 8:00 and we're off to Beans.
So we'd just ordered and were chatting when a group of people were seated at the table next to us. We watched them filter in, and bringing up the rear was an older woman, 70s probably, well dressed, walked with a cane. She walks over and starts talking to me and my friend. She started out by saying "I noticed you when you came in and I don't know if anyone has ever told you about this but there's something going around and it's important that you know about it." I soon realized that she wasn't with the group who sat down at all, but she was just striking up a conversation with us. So I did what I usually do when dealing with people who are obviously a bit 'tetched' in the head, which is nod and smile and begin the ignoring process. But she just kept talking.
She goes on to say that women who experience rapid and extreme weight gain are very much in danger of developing a problem (don't remember what she called it) that doesn't turn up in regular blood testing. She thinks it's very important that I (me personally) get tested because my regular doctor won't know about it. I have to tell you amigos, I felt a mixture of anger and shame and downright shock. I've never been quite so insulted in my entire life. So, I muster up (amid my mortification) the words "I'm quite well."
She responds "Are you?" To which I respond "Yes, I'm quite well." I got an icy glare and she turned around and left. After a little conversation along the lines of "That was really weird" and whatnot, we get back to our breakfast and conversation. About 10 or 15 minutes later, this same woman approaches our table and tells me the following: "I know you think you you're alright but it's very important that you know that the clinic where you can get tested is the XXX clinic in Mequon. You need to remember that." And she turned and walked away.
At this point I was livid. I didn't engage her at all because she was old and had a couple screws loose, but this is one of my favorite restaurants, and I'm with one of my favorite people, and this woman rudely interrupted a perfectly good meal to discuss my obvious weight problem.
So I called our server over and told her about it. I said I didn't know if she is a regular here but she interrupted our meal twice to say some very offensive things (bear in mind I've mentioned about 1/8 of the actual conversation). Anyway, she made some comment about her being a 'regular' and that it was unusual, and she told her manager. Then the manager says that this has happened with someone on the waitstaff but never with a diner. So I mention that, all mental illness aside, this shouldn't have happened to me and I wanted them to know about it so it doesn't happen to someone else.
I have no doubt that somehow this person thought she was doing me a favor. But I can't tell you how that felt, to have someone single me out and feel the need to talk to me because I'm heavy, when I'm with a friend no less. I was ashamed and embarrassed (during the second conversation she was actually talking loud enough for people to start looking up) and really, really pissed. I felt angry and hurt. And there was something so defeating about it all, especially after I've been working so hard with weight watchers. All this woman did was remind me of my situation, and I felt terrible.
I wish it made me feel better knowing that she has some issues (who knows what those issues are--she looked and dressed normally and obviously has her act together well enough to bring herself to breakfast on a regular basis), but it really doesn't. It just doesn't.
Not to worry, I haven't let it bother me a whole lot subsequently, and I really did have a great day yesterday. And today's not too shabby either. So, yeah, I'm fine. I guess maybe now I'm mostly pissed off. And sadly I'm a little hesitant to go to Beans again...
Friday, March 14, 2008
I take it back!
So remember how I was complaining that I didn't want to go out and celebrate my friends' engagement? I take it all back, every word. I went, and I had a wonderful time. I'm so very happy for both of them, and they're obviously over the moon. And I made very wise eating decisions, though frankly it wasn't too different from what I usually eat when I go there. My indulgence was a cappuccino, but when I go out to eat I just love to have some coffee and I wasn't in the mood for regular coffee, or espresso. I have to say it was delicious.
And the time out with my friends, well, it was fantastic!
Last weekend on the way home from DC I said to the Green Acres girls who were with me that I have been absolutely blessed with the best friends a person could ask for. When I say I love these people I'm not being in the least insincere or cloying. I really do love them. My friends from Green Acres, my friends from work, my friends from the adoption center, from wherever, are the nicest, kindest, friendliest people a person could ever hope to know and I am so, so lucky to have them.
I'm sorry if I'm getting schmaltzy here, but honestly, the best cure for a bad mood is my friends. They can always make me feel secure and valued.
So, it was a great time. Honestly, these last 2 weekends have been a blast (and this one is just getting started!). Tomorrow I get to see my hairdresser (another dear friend, I've been going to him for over 20 years), then Sunday I get to have brunch with my friend from New York. Then Monday I'm going to see Pink Martini at the Pabst with my mom and sister. They're more the fans than I am, but we wanted to make a girl's night of it, and my mother is just so excited about it. She's 76 but still gets a mighty kick out of her live shows. You should have seen her at Harry Connick Jr.!
Anyway, I just had to come in and write something a little more upbeat than where I left off. And to just say that I'm so thankful, every day, for the lovely people I count as my friends (and if you're reading this, you're one of them).
And the time out with my friends, well, it was fantastic!
Last weekend on the way home from DC I said to the Green Acres girls who were with me that I have been absolutely blessed with the best friends a person could ask for. When I say I love these people I'm not being in the least insincere or cloying. I really do love them. My friends from Green Acres, my friends from work, my friends from the adoption center, from wherever, are the nicest, kindest, friendliest people a person could ever hope to know and I am so, so lucky to have them.
I'm sorry if I'm getting schmaltzy here, but honestly, the best cure for a bad mood is my friends. They can always make me feel secure and valued.
So, it was a great time. Honestly, these last 2 weekends have been a blast (and this one is just getting started!). Tomorrow I get to see my hairdresser (another dear friend, I've been going to him for over 20 years), then Sunday I get to have brunch with my friend from New York. Then Monday I'm going to see Pink Martini at the Pabst with my mom and sister. They're more the fans than I am, but we wanted to make a girl's night of it, and my mother is just so excited about it. She's 76 but still gets a mighty kick out of her live shows. You should have seen her at Harry Connick Jr.!
Anyway, I just had to come in and write something a little more upbeat than where I left off. And to just say that I'm so thankful, every day, for the lovely people I count as my friends (and if you're reading this, you're one of them).
Weigh-in Number 3
Hey Amigos,
Well, the scales were in my favor at my WW meeting yesterday. I'm down 3.8 more pounds, for a total of 8.6 lbs lost.
I am indeed quite pleased, especially after the couple rough spots I encountered. I was able to indulge myself, within reason (except for the damn GS cookies...how much would I have lost if those hadn't entered the picture!?) and still lost weight. I like this program.
I've found the key is having food at home that I like and that is good for me. I've taken to stocking up about once a week with enough stuff for all 3 meals daily, and enough fruit for snacks, plus the occasional WW treat.
Allow me to get my griping out of the way. This is terrible and self-defeating, but I have to figure out how to face up to it. I've got a shitload of weight to lose. I am very happy I lost, and will continue to do so, but it is a daily, minute by minute struggle not to think about it in terms of how much I need to lose.
I'm working on it, I'm working on it.
What I've been telling myself is that it's not a good enough reason to not do something. Either lose weight slowly, or stay where I am. I'm smart enough to know what option is the best one.
The meeting was just OK. We had a sub who was a bore, and there is this group of women who pretty much know it all and talk through the entire meeting AND interrupt others while they're sharing to tell everyone why what the person is suggesting wouldn't work for themselves. It's very negative energy and I don't like it.
I'm looking forward to another week on the program. I can tell I'm eating better. I physically feel better, and I can indeed tell that I've dropped weight. It's probably not noticeable to the naked eye, but it is noticeable to the naked me.
I'm meeting friends out tonight for a celebration. It's an interesting story. I've known Y for years, she used to work for me. As long as I've known her she's had her best friend, A, who's a feller. They have known each other for years, probably at least 10-15 years, have been roommates, travelled together. I've never thought of them as anything other than that.
Well, somewhere along the line things changed, and A proposed to Y yesterday. I guess I can't describe how weird that is to me! I'm so used to looking at them one way, like they're brother and sister, and now that's all changed up!
I am incredibly happy for them, of course. It's just going to take some getting used to!
Blogs get pretty personal, right? I have to admit something, then. I'm not much in the mood to celebrate the event. I don't know if it has to do with me and Jeff or what, but the thought of a wedding right now makes me want to puke. I'm sure I'll overcome it and be fine by tonight. I mean, I have bigger fish to fry than dealing with me feeling sorry for myself. It's just so hard sometimes, it really is, to keep my spirits up when I'm feeling so incredibly blue.
But don't worry about me, I'll get over it. Hell, I'm not even entirely sure what I'm feeling, really. I just got the blues, I guess.
Thankfully it's Friday, AND I'm off this afternoon, so, woo hoo!
Well, the scales were in my favor at my WW meeting yesterday. I'm down 3.8 more pounds, for a total of 8.6 lbs lost.
I am indeed quite pleased, especially after the couple rough spots I encountered. I was able to indulge myself, within reason (except for the damn GS cookies...how much would I have lost if those hadn't entered the picture!?) and still lost weight. I like this program.
I've found the key is having food at home that I like and that is good for me. I've taken to stocking up about once a week with enough stuff for all 3 meals daily, and enough fruit for snacks, plus the occasional WW treat.
Allow me to get my griping out of the way. This is terrible and self-defeating, but I have to figure out how to face up to it. I've got a shitload of weight to lose. I am very happy I lost, and will continue to do so, but it is a daily, minute by minute struggle not to think about it in terms of how much I need to lose.
I'm working on it, I'm working on it.
What I've been telling myself is that it's not a good enough reason to not do something. Either lose weight slowly, or stay where I am. I'm smart enough to know what option is the best one.
The meeting was just OK. We had a sub who was a bore, and there is this group of women who pretty much know it all and talk through the entire meeting AND interrupt others while they're sharing to tell everyone why what the person is suggesting wouldn't work for themselves. It's very negative energy and I don't like it.
I'm looking forward to another week on the program. I can tell I'm eating better. I physically feel better, and I can indeed tell that I've dropped weight. It's probably not noticeable to the naked eye, but it is noticeable to the naked me.
I'm meeting friends out tonight for a celebration. It's an interesting story. I've known Y for years, she used to work for me. As long as I've known her she's had her best friend, A, who's a feller. They have known each other for years, probably at least 10-15 years, have been roommates, travelled together. I've never thought of them as anything other than that.
Well, somewhere along the line things changed, and A proposed to Y yesterday. I guess I can't describe how weird that is to me! I'm so used to looking at them one way, like they're brother and sister, and now that's all changed up!
I am incredibly happy for them, of course. It's just going to take some getting used to!
Blogs get pretty personal, right? I have to admit something, then. I'm not much in the mood to celebrate the event. I don't know if it has to do with me and Jeff or what, but the thought of a wedding right now makes me want to puke. I'm sure I'll overcome it and be fine by tonight. I mean, I have bigger fish to fry than dealing with me feeling sorry for myself. It's just so hard sometimes, it really is, to keep my spirits up when I'm feeling so incredibly blue.
But don't worry about me, I'll get over it. Hell, I'm not even entirely sure what I'm feeling, really. I just got the blues, I guess.
Thankfully it's Friday, AND I'm off this afternoon, so, woo hoo!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
What gives?
Are the blog gods telling me I shouldn't blog today? I keep trying but everything comes out like crap. I think maybe I'm trying too hard. So I'm just going to write a little about what I'm doing over the next few days.
Hey, it's always a thrill a minute with me.
So today I'm at work. Tonight is my weekly weight watchers meeting, and I get to weigh in. I had a couple rough days this week (that run in with the girl scout cookies was especially damning) but I've done well since then. I wouldn't be surprised if the scale didn't change much this week, what with my Door County indulgences. But I'm not discouraged, nor have I stopped my plan. I just had a couple bumps in the road is all.
I think the key has been planning. I essentially plan every meal and I don't stray from them. Much. That's when the weight watchers ice cream bars and treats come in very handy!
Let's see...tomorrow I am off in the afternoon for a therapy appointment, and my second follow up appointment with my devastatingly handsome doctor. I have fantasies about him.
"Oh, I'm sorry doctor, while I was waiting for you my shirt fell off."
This appointment will be bittersweet, because he probably won't need to see me after this. And it's not just because of him. I felt the same with my other orthopaedic doctor. You know, they're so good and kind and take such good care of you, and you'll never see them again. And that's actually what happened with my first orthopaedic doctor. He got cancer a few years later and died. He wasn't even 50.
Anyway, it is a bit sad, for me at least. But thankfully my healing process is coming along. It's taking a little longer than I anticipated, which is a bit discouraging, but I'll get there.
Saturday I have a haircut appointment, and not a minute too soon. My hair has been most uncooperative. It's gotten curlier as I've gotten older and sometimes it just takes over. A friend of mine once told me that there's a party on my head. Well, the party's gone on a bit long and everyone's had way too much to drink. It's time to call it a day!
Sunday I am having breakfast with my friend from New York. He comes to visit his parents a couple times a year and we have a tradition of breakfast at Beans and Barley and a trip to Sam's Club. He gets certain things there much, much cheaper than they can be gotten in NYC. I am really looking forward to that. He worked here years ago, and when he left we started emailing and never stopped. We email every day, even if it's just silly little things. He's one of my dearest friends.
So, that's what's going on with me. I know, a thrill a minute. But it's all I have to blog about right now, so it'll have to do. :)
Hey, it's always a thrill a minute with me.
So today I'm at work. Tonight is my weekly weight watchers meeting, and I get to weigh in. I had a couple rough days this week (that run in with the girl scout cookies was especially damning) but I've done well since then. I wouldn't be surprised if the scale didn't change much this week, what with my Door County indulgences. But I'm not discouraged, nor have I stopped my plan. I just had a couple bumps in the road is all.
I think the key has been planning. I essentially plan every meal and I don't stray from them. Much. That's when the weight watchers ice cream bars and treats come in very handy!
Let's see...tomorrow I am off in the afternoon for a therapy appointment, and my second follow up appointment with my devastatingly handsome doctor. I have fantasies about him.
"Oh, I'm sorry doctor, while I was waiting for you my shirt fell off."
This appointment will be bittersweet, because he probably won't need to see me after this. And it's not just because of him. I felt the same with my other orthopaedic doctor. You know, they're so good and kind and take such good care of you, and you'll never see them again. And that's actually what happened with my first orthopaedic doctor. He got cancer a few years later and died. He wasn't even 50.
Anyway, it is a bit sad, for me at least. But thankfully my healing process is coming along. It's taking a little longer than I anticipated, which is a bit discouraging, but I'll get there.
Saturday I have a haircut appointment, and not a minute too soon. My hair has been most uncooperative. It's gotten curlier as I've gotten older and sometimes it just takes over. A friend of mine once told me that there's a party on my head. Well, the party's gone on a bit long and everyone's had way too much to drink. It's time to call it a day!
Sunday I am having breakfast with my friend from New York. He comes to visit his parents a couple times a year and we have a tradition of breakfast at Beans and Barley and a trip to Sam's Club. He gets certain things there much, much cheaper than they can be gotten in NYC. I am really looking forward to that. He worked here years ago, and when he left we started emailing and never stopped. We email every day, even if it's just silly little things. He's one of my dearest friends.
So, that's what's going on with me. I know, a thrill a minute. But it's all I have to blog about right now, so it'll have to do. :)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Week So Far
Well, yesterday wasn't so hot in the old eating department. I had some Girl Scout cookies delivered that I'd forgotten I'd bought and...well, I'm not going down that road to explain what I did. I'll leave that up to your imagination. All is not lost. I do still have GS cookies here, just not as many as I ordered...
I'm going to give them to one of my students. She's from Burma and is probably 1/3 my size, and college students are always poor and hungry, even the rich ones. So she can have them.
I didn't do so hot once I got home either. I had a stomach ache (see above) and didn't want to eat any of the chili I had for fear of making things worse. So I opened a can of soup and it was terrible, some Healthy Choice concoction which may or may not be healthy but was anything but choice. I did not like it one tiny bit. So then I had a few other things to supplement and had an altogether not well balanced meal. I didn't necessarily overeat, but I didn't eat well that's for sure.
So I'm thinking weigh in on Thursday won't be so hot. I know that when I put my full attention on eating right that it works, but the weekend and yesterday were all out of sorts. Not that I'd trade my Door County weekend for anything, no way.
We took a trip to a winery up there. I really do love wine, but it does such a number on my system that I refrain from drinking it. Red wine makes me flush terribly, plus my sinuses close up and I can't breathe (allergies). White wine makes me flush too, though doesn't tend to mess up my breathing or anything. But the flushing just gets progressively worse as I get older so I just avoid the stuff. Most liquor, actually. I'm a teetotaller, but not by choice.
But I figured a few tastes wouldn't hurt, and I always like what they do with the cherries up there. So I approached the tasting area where my friends were. I was not greeted by the grumpy person behind the counter who really looked like she'd have rather been anywhere other than where she was. So after a few seconds of icy stares I asked for the type of wine I wanted to taste. This must have been a bit of an inconvenience for her, poor thing. I can't describe the look on her face. It was almost like she was thinking "You'll never spend enough money in this shop to make up for the trouble you're causing me." Anyway, before she poured she made it explicitly clear that I was allowed six tastes altogether. M'kay. Then she distributed a tiny taste of dry cherry wine in my glass. It was pretty good.
What makes me chuckle is that there were probably 4 other people in the entire place besides me and my friends (there were 6 of us). So while I appreciate their rules and everything, I'm not entirely sure it was necessary to make it so clear that we were being monitored. Did she keep a running tally in her head or something? Was she worried about running out of wine? There's just no telling.
So I didn't buy any wine. I didn't want any for myself (seeing as I can't drink it) and I didn't have any gifts in mind and therefore couldn't make an appropriate choice. So I bought cherry butter (I've never seen cherry butter and I'm very excited about trying it) and cherry rhubarb butter (I've also never seen that). I absolutely love cherries, so I was quite happy. I haven't tried either yet. Just thinking about them is making me hungry.
My sissy gets back from Boston today. I'm so glad. My mother came back from her 2 week visit to her sisters' places in Texas and has been complaining ever since, and I've had no one to vent to who would understand. Yesterday she told me that she grew tired of her sister mentioning her new hair do (not my mom's but her own). See, my mother never stops talking about her hair. I honestly can't describe to you how much my mother obsesses over her hair. However she failed to see the irony, so I finally said "You talk about your hair all the time" to which she resonded "I DO NOT!" and there was a little back and forth. What it came down to was that she felt there was a distinction between her sister saying "What do you think of my hair?" and her saying "How does my hair look?" It's insanity I tells ya.
I'm going to give them to one of my students. She's from Burma and is probably 1/3 my size, and college students are always poor and hungry, even the rich ones. So she can have them.
I didn't do so hot once I got home either. I had a stomach ache (see above) and didn't want to eat any of the chili I had for fear of making things worse. So I opened a can of soup and it was terrible, some Healthy Choice concoction which may or may not be healthy but was anything but choice. I did not like it one tiny bit. So then I had a few other things to supplement and had an altogether not well balanced meal. I didn't necessarily overeat, but I didn't eat well that's for sure.
So I'm thinking weigh in on Thursday won't be so hot. I know that when I put my full attention on eating right that it works, but the weekend and yesterday were all out of sorts. Not that I'd trade my Door County weekend for anything, no way.
We took a trip to a winery up there. I really do love wine, but it does such a number on my system that I refrain from drinking it. Red wine makes me flush terribly, plus my sinuses close up and I can't breathe (allergies). White wine makes me flush too, though doesn't tend to mess up my breathing or anything. But the flushing just gets progressively worse as I get older so I just avoid the stuff. Most liquor, actually. I'm a teetotaller, but not by choice.
But I figured a few tastes wouldn't hurt, and I always like what they do with the cherries up there. So I approached the tasting area where my friends were. I was not greeted by the grumpy person behind the counter who really looked like she'd have rather been anywhere other than where she was. So after a few seconds of icy stares I asked for the type of wine I wanted to taste. This must have been a bit of an inconvenience for her, poor thing. I can't describe the look on her face. It was almost like she was thinking "You'll never spend enough money in this shop to make up for the trouble you're causing me." Anyway, before she poured she made it explicitly clear that I was allowed six tastes altogether. M'kay. Then she distributed a tiny taste of dry cherry wine in my glass. It was pretty good.
What makes me chuckle is that there were probably 4 other people in the entire place besides me and my friends (there were 6 of us). So while I appreciate their rules and everything, I'm not entirely sure it was necessary to make it so clear that we were being monitored. Did she keep a running tally in her head or something? Was she worried about running out of wine? There's just no telling.
So I didn't buy any wine. I didn't want any for myself (seeing as I can't drink it) and I didn't have any gifts in mind and therefore couldn't make an appropriate choice. So I bought cherry butter (I've never seen cherry butter and I'm very excited about trying it) and cherry rhubarb butter (I've also never seen that). I absolutely love cherries, so I was quite happy. I haven't tried either yet. Just thinking about them is making me hungry.
My sissy gets back from Boston today. I'm so glad. My mother came back from her 2 week visit to her sisters' places in Texas and has been complaining ever since, and I've had no one to vent to who would understand. Yesterday she told me that she grew tired of her sister mentioning her new hair do (not my mom's but her own). See, my mother never stops talking about her hair. I honestly can't describe to you how much my mother obsesses over her hair. However she failed to see the irony, so I finally said "You talk about your hair all the time" to which she resonded "I DO NOT!" and there was a little back and forth. What it came down to was that she felt there was a distinction between her sister saying "What do you think of my hair?" and her saying "How does my hair look?" It's insanity I tells ya.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Road trippin'
I took a road trip up to Door County this weekend with the Green Acres girls, I call them. We're actually not girls, but it sounds cute to me. I had a wonderful time. The ride up was fun, the time there was fun, the ride down was fun. Just fun all around. I had a very nice room and a comfy bed, a good shower, great food (of which I contributed NOTHING...my planning skills for an overnight trip are sorely lacking), great conversation, lots of laughs. I'm so glad I went.
I understand my boxers were quite good while I was away. I'm thinking they did lots of this:
Hanging out on my bed is their favorite thing to do. It's irrelevant whether I'm in it or not, though I like to think they prefer it when I am there.
My friend Ursula introduced me to her neighbor's horses. That was so nice. I haven't gotten to spend time with a horse in a long time, and they were quite sweet. I love them so much. They were so big and beautiful, with their shaggy winter coats, and those great big beautiful eyes. I let one nibble on the sleeve of my jacket. He didn't damage it, but even if he did I wouldn't care because then I could tell people if they ask that a horse nibbled a hole in my coat. That would make me happy.
It was so quiet up there. I forget just how much white noise there is here. It doesn't bother me, it's just got an impact.
I believe I did as well as could be expected as far as eating goes. I indulged my sweet tooth a few times, and had a second helping of vegan lasagna, but I didn't pig out at any time, which is always my biggest problem. I feel like I had just enough.
All in all I had a great weekend.
I understand my boxers were quite good while I was away. I'm thinking they did lots of this:
Hanging out on my bed is their favorite thing to do. It's irrelevant whether I'm in it or not, though I like to think they prefer it when I am there.
My friend Ursula introduced me to her neighbor's horses. That was so nice. I haven't gotten to spend time with a horse in a long time, and they were quite sweet. I love them so much. They were so big and beautiful, with their shaggy winter coats, and those great big beautiful eyes. I let one nibble on the sleeve of my jacket. He didn't damage it, but even if he did I wouldn't care because then I could tell people if they ask that a horse nibbled a hole in my coat. That would make me happy.
It was so quiet up there. I forget just how much white noise there is here. It doesn't bother me, it's just got an impact.
I believe I did as well as could be expected as far as eating goes. I indulged my sweet tooth a few times, and had a second helping of vegan lasagna, but I didn't pig out at any time, which is always my biggest problem. I feel like I had just enough.
All in all I had a great weekend.
Friday, March 7, 2008
One week
Well, yesterday was my second WW meeting, which included a weigh in. I'm down 4.8 lbs. (just .2 lbs away from getting a 5 lb award!). So...I'd say for only following the program officially since Sunday 4.8 ain't half bad.
Of course this weekend I'm driving up to Door County with some of the Green Acres girls and I sense there will be temptation afoot, so I've got a bit of planning to do. But I'm not exceptionally worried. I'm looking forward to it more than anything else.
I'm super busy today so that's all I'll post for now. Just had to report my loss! Let's hope there's more to come!
Of course this weekend I'm driving up to Door County with some of the Green Acres girls and I sense there will be temptation afoot, so I've got a bit of planning to do. But I'm not exceptionally worried. I'm looking forward to it more than anything else.
I'm super busy today so that's all I'll post for now. Just had to report my loss! Let's hope there's more to come!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
I'm It!!!!
My buddy Alabaster Mom tagged me this morning, so seeing as I'm it I'd better get down to business. Thankfully I love this kind of thing, dating all the way back to probably grade school when you'd make up those personal quizzes and pass them around to all your little friends. Here goes.
10 years ago:
As luck would have it I happen to keep all my old monthly planners so I pulled the one out for 1998 and took a look. I was a busy girl! In addition to working full time I was a part time pet sitter for a very successful business. In the month of March I was booked solid, I'd forgotten how busy that job kept me. She moved her business to Delafield so that put an end to that. I used to have lunch every day with a couple guys who worked here, we always had so much fun. They both left but I still see them regularly. I'd moved into my very first house in late '97 and I was still adjusting to that, and loving every minute of it. So I'd say 10 years ago I was a busy, happy girl. OH, I was sharing my life with my very first dog too. Her name was Cassie and she was a little Boston terrier I'd gotten from Wisconsin BT rescue. I loved her to pieces, and I still think of her frequently, and I miss her so much. I can't describe how much I loved that dog.
5 Things on my To Do List Today Were:
1. Print off directions to Urs' house
2. Print off GABR girls' cell nos
3. Email the HF Group account rep
4. Reschedule my PT appointment
5. Charge my cell phone
Things I Would Do If I Were Suddenly a Billionnaire:
Billions hey? Then I'm shooting the works.
I'd say quit my job but actually I'd probably not officially quit, they'd just never see me again. I'd buy a new bigger house with a huge fenced in yard for my dogs (no more being a landlady!!!). I'd buy a horse. I'd endow the Companion Animal Resource and Adoption Center so that they'd never have to worry about money ever again and that more strays in Milwaukee county could be saved. Ditto to Green Acres Boxer Rescue, just replace "strays in Milwaukee county" with "boxers in Wisconsin."I'd set up a fund for my little nephew's college. I'd buy the biggest, best frickin television and DVD/High Def/Blu Ray whatever system you've ever seen. And a great stereo. And I'd have someone to do the housework for me because I'm just not a good housekeeper, and it will only get worse if I actually have a bigger house. I'd like to put properties on whatever land I happen to have my big house on so that my best friends could come live near me. And I'd want to travel.
3 of My Bad Habits:
1. Listening to my music too loudly
2. Hitting the snooze button so many times that it's lost all meaning
3. Picking at the cuticles of my thumbs
Jobs I've Had:
Petsitter
Babysitter/Nanny
Telemarketer (sorry if I ever called you)
Cashier at a Godfather's Pizza restaurant
Salad runner at one of the dorms
Sales associate at Boston Store
Student assistant in the archives
Library staff person
5 Things People Don't Know About Me:
1. I was a champion speller in grade school
2. I despise Danny Kaye and therefore have never seen the movie "White Christmas"
3. I think Lawrencia Bembenek is probably innocent
4. I got to meet and spend time with one of my heroes, John Irving (author of World According to Garp and Cider House Rules; I have pics and everything)
5. I know and can sing along with every line of "Jesus Christ, Superstar."
OK, I have to tag some people...I'd say Sassy Sadie's Mom (or can she not be tagged twice, since Alabaster Mom beat me to it?), Green Bay Vegan (c'mon, you know you want to update your blog!! This is the best reason!), Amy and Darlene.
10 years ago:
As luck would have it I happen to keep all my old monthly planners so I pulled the one out for 1998 and took a look. I was a busy girl! In addition to working full time I was a part time pet sitter for a very successful business. In the month of March I was booked solid, I'd forgotten how busy that job kept me. She moved her business to Delafield so that put an end to that. I used to have lunch every day with a couple guys who worked here, we always had so much fun. They both left but I still see them regularly. I'd moved into my very first house in late '97 and I was still adjusting to that, and loving every minute of it. So I'd say 10 years ago I was a busy, happy girl. OH, I was sharing my life with my very first dog too. Her name was Cassie and she was a little Boston terrier I'd gotten from Wisconsin BT rescue. I loved her to pieces, and I still think of her frequently, and I miss her so much. I can't describe how much I loved that dog.
5 Things on my To Do List Today Were:
1. Print off directions to Urs' house
2. Print off GABR girls' cell nos
3. Email the HF Group account rep
4. Reschedule my PT appointment
5. Charge my cell phone
Things I Would Do If I Were Suddenly a Billionnaire:
Billions hey? Then I'm shooting the works.
I'd say quit my job but actually I'd probably not officially quit, they'd just never see me again. I'd buy a new bigger house with a huge fenced in yard for my dogs (no more being a landlady!!!). I'd buy a horse. I'd endow the Companion Animal Resource and Adoption Center so that they'd never have to worry about money ever again and that more strays in Milwaukee county could be saved. Ditto to Green Acres Boxer Rescue, just replace "strays in Milwaukee county" with "boxers in Wisconsin."I'd set up a fund for my little nephew's college. I'd buy the biggest, best frickin television and DVD/High Def/Blu Ray whatever system you've ever seen. And a great stereo. And I'd have someone to do the housework for me because I'm just not a good housekeeper, and it will only get worse if I actually have a bigger house. I'd like to put properties on whatever land I happen to have my big house on so that my best friends could come live near me. And I'd want to travel.
3 of My Bad Habits:
1. Listening to my music too loudly
2. Hitting the snooze button so many times that it's lost all meaning
3. Picking at the cuticles of my thumbs
Jobs I've Had:
Petsitter
Babysitter/Nanny
Telemarketer (sorry if I ever called you)
Cashier at a Godfather's Pizza restaurant
Salad runner at one of the dorms
Sales associate at Boston Store
Student assistant in the archives
Library staff person
5 Things People Don't Know About Me:
1. I was a champion speller in grade school
2. I despise Danny Kaye and therefore have never seen the movie "White Christmas"
3. I think Lawrencia Bembenek is probably innocent
4. I got to meet and spend time with one of my heroes, John Irving (author of World According to Garp and Cider House Rules; I have pics and everything)
5. I know and can sing along with every line of "Jesus Christ, Superstar."
OK, I have to tag some people...I'd say Sassy Sadie's Mom (or can she not be tagged twice, since Alabaster Mom beat me to it?), Green Bay Vegan (c'mon, you know you want to update your blog!! This is the best reason!), Amy and Darlene.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
St. Anthony Comes Through (again)
I want to preface this post by telling you that I'm not particularly religious. I'm not an evangelical, I'm not born again, I would never assume I'm saved while others aren't (if there is a heaven I am sure that good people, no matter what religion, have as good a chance of getting there as anyone), I have some issues with organized religion. But I have to say that there is just something about those patron saints. :) Read on to see what I mean.
So I get home bound and determined to locate my work ID. I poke through papers and move things, open drawers, check every pocket, etc. No dice. Then I remember that I haven't looked in my car. Light is quickly fading, so I grab my flashlight, which was inexplicably behind my bookcase (I told you I put things in weird places), and head out to the garage. Before I put my key in the door I say a prayer to St. Anthony. While there's probably an official prayer, I don't know it so I usually say something like "St. Anthony, I lost (insert item here) and it's important and I'm praying to you and hope you can help me find it. Thanks."
I open my car and I have a bag for any trash that I find (and I usually find plenty). I'm starting on the passenger side because that's where I toss things upon entering (purse, backpack, water bottle, etc.). So I'm tossing things in the bag I don't need and about 30 seconds in I spot the back of my ID. It was sort of sideways shoved up against the flooring, I'm not surprised I missed it these last couple days. But today was the first day I put the call out to my friend St. Anthony.
I actually gasped. I almost couldn't believe it. He's come through for me before, but this was pretty dramatic. I mean, I'd JUST 'talked' with him.
OK, call me crazy, or choose to think it's hooey, and assume that I would have found it anyway. Maybe I would have. But the fact is I DIDN'T find it until after I asked for his help.
Kinda spooky, hey?
So I get home bound and determined to locate my work ID. I poke through papers and move things, open drawers, check every pocket, etc. No dice. Then I remember that I haven't looked in my car. Light is quickly fading, so I grab my flashlight, which was inexplicably behind my bookcase (I told you I put things in weird places), and head out to the garage. Before I put my key in the door I say a prayer to St. Anthony. While there's probably an official prayer, I don't know it so I usually say something like "St. Anthony, I lost (insert item here) and it's important and I'm praying to you and hope you can help me find it. Thanks."
I open my car and I have a bag for any trash that I find (and I usually find plenty). I'm starting on the passenger side because that's where I toss things upon entering (purse, backpack, water bottle, etc.). So I'm tossing things in the bag I don't need and about 30 seconds in I spot the back of my ID. It was sort of sideways shoved up against the flooring, I'm not surprised I missed it these last couple days. But today was the first day I put the call out to my friend St. Anthony.
I actually gasped. I almost couldn't believe it. He's come through for me before, but this was pretty dramatic. I mean, I'd JUST 'talked' with him.
OK, call me crazy, or choose to think it's hooey, and assume that I would have found it anyway. Maybe I would have. But the fact is I DIDN'T find it until after I asked for his help.
Kinda spooky, hey?
Losin' stuff
I can be a real walking disaster without even trying. A disaster to myself, not others. My sister calls this phenomenon 'pulling a Leslie.'
Case in point: Last week maybe Wednesday I left work and managed to leave my backpack on my desk. I just walked out the door with nothing but my keys. I realized this but knew I had my credit card in my pocket (don't ask me why...I don't know) so I was going to get my car, quick run to the store, get the dogs and run back to work to get my backpack, all the while praying I don't get pulled over because my license was, of course, in my backpack. So I get to the store and realize that my credit card is no longer in my pocket. And this wasn't one of those "Oh, I must have it somewhere else." No, this was "it was here a minute ago and now it's gone." So there I am in the Sentry parking lot with my thumb up my butt. Not literally.
So I turn around and go back to work and get my backpack which has cash and my ATM card. When I get home I call the credit card company and have them put a hold on the card, thinking maybe it fell out and into my car. Well, a couple days pass and no card. So I call and have them cancel it. What this means is that all the accounts I have set up and charged to my card (cable, cell phone, netflix, etc.) have to be changed to my new account number. But I won't know that account number until I get the replacement card.
I charge a lot on that card. It's a Midwest card and I get beaucoup miles, so any bill I could pay on it I do. But now, in the interim, I'm having to change these accounts to my damn debit card, which messes everything up because of when I'm used to paying my credit card and when I get paid. It's not been fun. I actually had to leave the check out aisle at the grocery store on sunday, run to their atm (which was thankfully only a few yards away), transfer some money from my savings and go back and try my debit card again. Not fun. Not fun at all.
It's like all these tiny explosions and my world has been thrown into chaos.
So what happens yesterday? I get an email from public safety. They found my card in the parking structure where it fell out of my pocket.
Sigh.
Story's not over folks. Somewhere in all this I've also lost/misplaced my work ID. In a normal world that's no biggie. But I work in a place with controlled access. I need my ID to get in every day. I need my ID if I want to use the bathroom. I need my ID to essentially go anywhere during the day. I use it several times a day. And my employer, bless them, does not look kindly on people who lose their IDs. The replacement fee is $15. So I'm biding my time hoping that it turns up. I haven't said my prayer to St. Anthony yet. He's the patron saint of lost items, and I call on him often, and he almost always comes through. But I don't like to bother him unless I'm sure, and right now I'm not quite sure I won't find it.
My problem is I have this very weird habit of putting things in strange places with the theory that since it's in someplace weird I can't possibly forget where it is. Like one time I threw a hostess party (Partylite I think). Someone from work couldn't attend so he gave me a check to place an order. I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle so I put it somewhere for safekeeping. So party's over, she's settling her books and all, and I can't find the damn check. No idea where it was. After about 20 minutes of looking (and me being sent into a panic) she says "There's a check on top of your fridge." Sure enough, it was the check. On top of my fridge.
I'm as baffled as you are.
So I'm thinking my work ID is probably in the oven or something. I'll let you know if it turns up.
Case in point: Last week maybe Wednesday I left work and managed to leave my backpack on my desk. I just walked out the door with nothing but my keys. I realized this but knew I had my credit card in my pocket (don't ask me why...I don't know) so I was going to get my car, quick run to the store, get the dogs and run back to work to get my backpack, all the while praying I don't get pulled over because my license was, of course, in my backpack. So I get to the store and realize that my credit card is no longer in my pocket. And this wasn't one of those "Oh, I must have it somewhere else." No, this was "it was here a minute ago and now it's gone." So there I am in the Sentry parking lot with my thumb up my butt. Not literally.
So I turn around and go back to work and get my backpack which has cash and my ATM card. When I get home I call the credit card company and have them put a hold on the card, thinking maybe it fell out and into my car. Well, a couple days pass and no card. So I call and have them cancel it. What this means is that all the accounts I have set up and charged to my card (cable, cell phone, netflix, etc.) have to be changed to my new account number. But I won't know that account number until I get the replacement card.
I charge a lot on that card. It's a Midwest card and I get beaucoup miles, so any bill I could pay on it I do. But now, in the interim, I'm having to change these accounts to my damn debit card, which messes everything up because of when I'm used to paying my credit card and when I get paid. It's not been fun. I actually had to leave the check out aisle at the grocery store on sunday, run to their atm (which was thankfully only a few yards away), transfer some money from my savings and go back and try my debit card again. Not fun. Not fun at all.
It's like all these tiny explosions and my world has been thrown into chaos.
So what happens yesterday? I get an email from public safety. They found my card in the parking structure where it fell out of my pocket.
Sigh.
Story's not over folks. Somewhere in all this I've also lost/misplaced my work ID. In a normal world that's no biggie. But I work in a place with controlled access. I need my ID to get in every day. I need my ID if I want to use the bathroom. I need my ID to essentially go anywhere during the day. I use it several times a day. And my employer, bless them, does not look kindly on people who lose their IDs. The replacement fee is $15. So I'm biding my time hoping that it turns up. I haven't said my prayer to St. Anthony yet. He's the patron saint of lost items, and I call on him often, and he almost always comes through. But I don't like to bother him unless I'm sure, and right now I'm not quite sure I won't find it.
My problem is I have this very weird habit of putting things in strange places with the theory that since it's in someplace weird I can't possibly forget where it is. Like one time I threw a hostess party (Partylite I think). Someone from work couldn't attend so he gave me a check to place an order. I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle so I put it somewhere for safekeeping. So party's over, she's settling her books and all, and I can't find the damn check. No idea where it was. After about 20 minutes of looking (and me being sent into a panic) she says "There's a check on top of your fridge." Sure enough, it was the check. On top of my fridge.
I'm as baffled as you are.
So I'm thinking my work ID is probably in the oven or something. I'll let you know if it turns up.
First full day!
Well, I made it through my first official day of following the WW flex plan. I have to say, it's not too shabby. I stayed under my points for the day (even after being brutally honest about what I ate, which of course is the only way to be since I'd only be lying to myself!), which I probably shouldn't have but by the time I realized I had more points to spend I was getting ready to go to bed.
In a perfect world I'd eat breakfast at home. But seeing as I find it nearly impossible to get out of bed any time before 7 I usually end up bringing something with me. Yesterday that was a whole wheat English muffin, today it was oatmeal. I make sure to have a stock fruit on hand. I'm a big fruit person. Not too big on the veggies. I love salad, but crudites and I are not on friendly terms. I tried to do the right thing and bring baby carrots to work and force myself to eat them, knowing it's something I should do. Then I realized, by process of elimination, that the carrots were what was causing this terrible afternoon heartburn and I had to give them up. If I cooked them I may not have that reaction. But deep down I'm a lazy, lazy woman and I wanted something I could grab and go. And besides baby carrots, what other veg is there? And don't say celery. Celery is the devil. I'll eat it if it has peanut butter or cream cheese on it, and in soups, but other than that I find it completely worthless. I can't eat peppers either, since they do such a number on my tum tum. I've tried, but I end up sticking with spinach salads.
Fruit on the other hand...one of the best foods around. You don't have to cook fruit. You just bring it, and eat it. Sometimes you wash it and then eat it. And it's usually quite tasty. I like most fruits but I'm a bit picky when it comes to apples. I'm partial to Granny Smith apples and am not satisfied with most others. Granny Smiths are so consistently good, but others...I have flashbacks to being in grade school and biting into a red delicious apple that's all soft and mealy and yellow and I just want to barf. And golden delicious are just that much worse. I like Macintosh but if it's soft I'll stop after one bite. Oh, I'm not crazy about pears, frankly I'll eat them, but they're not a favorite.
My weakness, and my mother's too, is nectarines. My sister actually put a moratorium on nectarine discussions between me and my mom when she is around. Seriously, we're disturbed. But honestly, when you have a good nectarine there isn't much better. I'm not a peach fan, just nectarines. I also don't like oranges. Too much work, not enough payoff.
When I'm eating right (and I can go for long stretches of eating right) I have absolutely no trouble meeting the FDA's recommended 5 a day.
So, yeah, made it through my first full day. I did have some rough moments. Isn't that sad? One lousy day and I still found my mind wandering to foods I'd like to have but know that I shouldn't. I just waited it out and it ended up being fine, but I can tell this is going to be a lot of work.
They really do have the right idea with this points business. I'm not sure if they did some psychological research and how they came up with it, but it does give you a lot of freedom and it steers you toward making good decisions regarding food choices and proportions. They're shifting the way I look at what I'm eating. So like last night, I didn't have the greatest dinner (I made quesadillas, but ate 2 servings of them, plus I splurged again and had 2 ice cream bars over the evening) but because of how I'd eaten during the day I was covered. So it was like, hey, I can have this and still be in my points range. It's not like there's anything I CAN'T have. It's just a matter of how much.
I'm really beginning to understand how this system works.
Someone here let the cat out of the bag and now everyone knows I joined the program. I kind of wish that hadn't happened. I know they didn't mean anything by it. We are like a big family here and I know that everyone will support me. Shoot, someone even sent me a link to a blog called Hungry Girl that really looks like it might be a lot of help. I guess I just wanted to keep a lid on it for a while. I've known most of these people for 20 years (not a lot of turn around here) and they have seen me get bigger and bigger. Oh, let's see, I've put on about 150 lbs since I started here. Oh my GOD how awful is that!!!!!!! So even embarking on this journey is scary.
There's a lot of fear involved with losing weight, you know? But I'm getting way ahead of myself now.
Let's just leave it as I've embarked on day 2, and we'll see where it goes.
In a perfect world I'd eat breakfast at home. But seeing as I find it nearly impossible to get out of bed any time before 7 I usually end up bringing something with me. Yesterday that was a whole wheat English muffin, today it was oatmeal. I make sure to have a stock fruit on hand. I'm a big fruit person. Not too big on the veggies. I love salad, but crudites and I are not on friendly terms. I tried to do the right thing and bring baby carrots to work and force myself to eat them, knowing it's something I should do. Then I realized, by process of elimination, that the carrots were what was causing this terrible afternoon heartburn and I had to give them up. If I cooked them I may not have that reaction. But deep down I'm a lazy, lazy woman and I wanted something I could grab and go. And besides baby carrots, what other veg is there? And don't say celery. Celery is the devil. I'll eat it if it has peanut butter or cream cheese on it, and in soups, but other than that I find it completely worthless. I can't eat peppers either, since they do such a number on my tum tum. I've tried, but I end up sticking with spinach salads.
Fruit on the other hand...one of the best foods around. You don't have to cook fruit. You just bring it, and eat it. Sometimes you wash it and then eat it. And it's usually quite tasty. I like most fruits but I'm a bit picky when it comes to apples. I'm partial to Granny Smith apples and am not satisfied with most others. Granny Smiths are so consistently good, but others...I have flashbacks to being in grade school and biting into a red delicious apple that's all soft and mealy and yellow and I just want to barf. And golden delicious are just that much worse. I like Macintosh but if it's soft I'll stop after one bite. Oh, I'm not crazy about pears, frankly I'll eat them, but they're not a favorite.
My weakness, and my mother's too, is nectarines. My sister actually put a moratorium on nectarine discussions between me and my mom when she is around. Seriously, we're disturbed. But honestly, when you have a good nectarine there isn't much better. I'm not a peach fan, just nectarines. I also don't like oranges. Too much work, not enough payoff.
When I'm eating right (and I can go for long stretches of eating right) I have absolutely no trouble meeting the FDA's recommended 5 a day.
So, yeah, made it through my first full day. I did have some rough moments. Isn't that sad? One lousy day and I still found my mind wandering to foods I'd like to have but know that I shouldn't. I just waited it out and it ended up being fine, but I can tell this is going to be a lot of work.
They really do have the right idea with this points business. I'm not sure if they did some psychological research and how they came up with it, but it does give you a lot of freedom and it steers you toward making good decisions regarding food choices and proportions. They're shifting the way I look at what I'm eating. So like last night, I didn't have the greatest dinner (I made quesadillas, but ate 2 servings of them, plus I splurged again and had 2 ice cream bars over the evening) but because of how I'd eaten during the day I was covered. So it was like, hey, I can have this and still be in my points range. It's not like there's anything I CAN'T have. It's just a matter of how much.
I'm really beginning to understand how this system works.
Someone here let the cat out of the bag and now everyone knows I joined the program. I kind of wish that hadn't happened. I know they didn't mean anything by it. We are like a big family here and I know that everyone will support me. Shoot, someone even sent me a link to a blog called Hungry Girl that really looks like it might be a lot of help. I guess I just wanted to keep a lid on it for a while. I've known most of these people for 20 years (not a lot of turn around here) and they have seen me get bigger and bigger. Oh, let's see, I've put on about 150 lbs since I started here. Oh my GOD how awful is that!!!!!!! So even embarking on this journey is scary.
There's a lot of fear involved with losing weight, you know? But I'm getting way ahead of myself now.
Let's just leave it as I've embarked on day 2, and we'll see where it goes.
Monday, March 3, 2008
The journey begins
Hola Amigos,
So I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting (well, first in about 18 years) on Thursday night. I was so apprehensive and absolutely dreading it, and I almost lost my nerve. But I put a call out to some friends. My good buddy Alabaster Mom came to my rescue and reminded me that I can, indeed, do this. And my longtime pal Darwin told me how much I'd like it. Thanks too, to Sadie's mom for having faith in me. I need so much help!!!
And then there was the encouragement I got from my sister.
Me: I don't want to go to the meeting.
Her: You have to go to the meeting.
Me: Why do I have to go to the meeting?
Her: Because you HAVE to go to the meeting.
And I understood her. And I went.
So I get there a bit early, since I need to register and all. I was really apprehensive. I don't do well in situations such as this, going someplace where I don't know anyone...I really just had to force myself. So I parked my car, walked in, found the room and thankfully there was another member who walked in with me and he opened the door for me. No running away now. I registered and weighed in and started to relax. I wasn't surprised or shocked by what the scale said, since I'd been to the doctor so many times recently and I needed to know what my weight was before surgery so they could do the anesthesia correctly. So finding out what I weighed wasn't a huge deal. But all I could think of is how much damn weight I have to lose. It's a crapload amigos. We're talking in the upper 100s. So that was a bit tough to swallow.
I've been trying to get myself to remember that I need to look at the smaller picture, getting through every day, you know? Sure, there's a big goal out there and it's not like I'll ever forget that (no way I ever could). But I need to bring my focus in more specifically. I'll get lost if all I think about is the hundreds I need to lose. So they gave me a 10% goal. This I think I can handle. Hell, I could lose 10% of my weight in my sleep. Sad thing is, when you're as big as I am it's hard to tell!
Even though I started my meetings on Thursday, I didn't really officially start the plan whole heartedly until today. This is mostly because I didn't go grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping. So I put it off until the 11th hour (or 8:00 last night). I spent $140 (that I really couldn't afford right now, but it's so important I knew I had to) in order to stock my larder appropriately. I bought spinach for salad, and cole slaw mix for a quick lunch or snack, apples, grapes, strawberries, bread, tuna (my flesh food weakness), english muffins, peanut butter, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, cheerios, eggs, soy milk, coffee, fat free chocolate pudding, applesauce, soup, tortillas...and more, of course (I couldn't pass up some of the WW ice cream bars), fat free cheese, salsa, butter spray (what a great freaking invention! no more slathering my toast with smart balance! Just a couple quick sprays and I'm all set), mushroom burgers. My cart was brimming. I had 8 bags of groceries! Of course, I won't go through all that in a week, but I needed so much because my house was virtually devoid of good food. I'm sure subsequent visits won't be quite such an undertaking.
I did already overindulge in the treat department, and had 2 fudge bars instead of one. But Sundays are usually tough for me. I'm up later than I usually am during the week and just tend to be hungrier. I do much better during the week.
This weight watchers stuff is interesting. They seem to have really gotten their act together over the years. I think they were always a cut above the rest, but they're in a different stratosphere now.
The first diet I ever joined was the now defunct "Diet Workshop." I was in college at the time and it was cheaper than weight watchers. I'll never forget that plan. I wish I still had the booklet so I could prove to you how they had you start. The first week you were literally eating 750 calories a day. It had it written right there on the plan, plain as day. I remember being able to eat fake crab legs and lettuce, and that's about it. I don't even think cottage cheese was allowed until week 3. I was hungry all the time. No, not hungry. RAVENOUS. And I remember going to parties and not drinking. Do you realize what that's like? I was never so bored in my life.
From one week to the next I lost 10 pounds. They were all flabbergasted that they were giving me the 10 lb award only 1 week into the program. Of course at the time we all thought it was the greatest thing ever. If I only knew then what I know now.
My goal was something like 130 pounds. I'm 5'5" but I'm big boned (and I'm not just saying that...how many 5'5" people do you know have had size 9 1/2 feet since they were 12?). What ended up happening was that I plateaued at 155. I was there for months. An entire summer actually. And then I just stopped going. The weight stayed off for several years which is good. If I'd only known that 155 is pretty much where I should be, maybe I would have done things differently. Sure, it's on the upper range, but I have no doubt that's what my body was telling me. If I'd only listened.
I won't say that's my goal now. No, my goal this very minute is to lose 10% of my body weight. I'm not going to tell you how much that is because I know my readers are smart enough to multiply that number by 10 and find out how much I currently weigh, and I'm not ready to make that public. But I will let you know when I get there.
I could go on and on about all of this but I won't. I just want you to know that I went and I'm making the effort to work the plan. I'm doing the Flex Points plan which is working well so far (for the whole 1/2 day I've been doing it). It's a smart plan, and being as heavy as I am they don't skimp on the points they give you.
So, I'll go to my meeting on Thursday. I'll probably go twice a week. Darwin and his sister go to a Saturday morning meeting, I went with them this past Saturday and it was very fun. Shit, I need all the help I can get.
I'll get weighed on Thursday and will report what the scale says. Could this be the time that works?
So I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting (well, first in about 18 years) on Thursday night. I was so apprehensive and absolutely dreading it, and I almost lost my nerve. But I put a call out to some friends. My good buddy Alabaster Mom came to my rescue and reminded me that I can, indeed, do this. And my longtime pal Darwin told me how much I'd like it. Thanks too, to Sadie's mom for having faith in me. I need so much help!!!
And then there was the encouragement I got from my sister.
Me: I don't want to go to the meeting.
Her: You have to go to the meeting.
Me: Why do I have to go to the meeting?
Her: Because you HAVE to go to the meeting.
And I understood her. And I went.
So I get there a bit early, since I need to register and all. I was really apprehensive. I don't do well in situations such as this, going someplace where I don't know anyone...I really just had to force myself. So I parked my car, walked in, found the room and thankfully there was another member who walked in with me and he opened the door for me. No running away now. I registered and weighed in and started to relax. I wasn't surprised or shocked by what the scale said, since I'd been to the doctor so many times recently and I needed to know what my weight was before surgery so they could do the anesthesia correctly. So finding out what I weighed wasn't a huge deal. But all I could think of is how much damn weight I have to lose. It's a crapload amigos. We're talking in the upper 100s. So that was a bit tough to swallow.
I've been trying to get myself to remember that I need to look at the smaller picture, getting through every day, you know? Sure, there's a big goal out there and it's not like I'll ever forget that (no way I ever could). But I need to bring my focus in more specifically. I'll get lost if all I think about is the hundreds I need to lose. So they gave me a 10% goal. This I think I can handle. Hell, I could lose 10% of my weight in my sleep. Sad thing is, when you're as big as I am it's hard to tell!
Even though I started my meetings on Thursday, I didn't really officially start the plan whole heartedly until today. This is mostly because I didn't go grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping. So I put it off until the 11th hour (or 8:00 last night). I spent $140 (that I really couldn't afford right now, but it's so important I knew I had to) in order to stock my larder appropriately. I bought spinach for salad, and cole slaw mix for a quick lunch or snack, apples, grapes, strawberries, bread, tuna (my flesh food weakness), english muffins, peanut butter, salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, cheerios, eggs, soy milk, coffee, fat free chocolate pudding, applesauce, soup, tortillas...and more, of course (I couldn't pass up some of the WW ice cream bars), fat free cheese, salsa, butter spray (what a great freaking invention! no more slathering my toast with smart balance! Just a couple quick sprays and I'm all set), mushroom burgers. My cart was brimming. I had 8 bags of groceries! Of course, I won't go through all that in a week, but I needed so much because my house was virtually devoid of good food. I'm sure subsequent visits won't be quite such an undertaking.
I did already overindulge in the treat department, and had 2 fudge bars instead of one. But Sundays are usually tough for me. I'm up later than I usually am during the week and just tend to be hungrier. I do much better during the week.
This weight watchers stuff is interesting. They seem to have really gotten their act together over the years. I think they were always a cut above the rest, but they're in a different stratosphere now.
The first diet I ever joined was the now defunct "Diet Workshop." I was in college at the time and it was cheaper than weight watchers. I'll never forget that plan. I wish I still had the booklet so I could prove to you how they had you start. The first week you were literally eating 750 calories a day. It had it written right there on the plan, plain as day. I remember being able to eat fake crab legs and lettuce, and that's about it. I don't even think cottage cheese was allowed until week 3. I was hungry all the time. No, not hungry. RAVENOUS. And I remember going to parties and not drinking. Do you realize what that's like? I was never so bored in my life.
From one week to the next I lost 10 pounds. They were all flabbergasted that they were giving me the 10 lb award only 1 week into the program. Of course at the time we all thought it was the greatest thing ever. If I only knew then what I know now.
My goal was something like 130 pounds. I'm 5'5" but I'm big boned (and I'm not just saying that...how many 5'5" people do you know have had size 9 1/2 feet since they were 12?). What ended up happening was that I plateaued at 155. I was there for months. An entire summer actually. And then I just stopped going. The weight stayed off for several years which is good. If I'd only known that 155 is pretty much where I should be, maybe I would have done things differently. Sure, it's on the upper range, but I have no doubt that's what my body was telling me. If I'd only listened.
I won't say that's my goal now. No, my goal this very minute is to lose 10% of my body weight. I'm not going to tell you how much that is because I know my readers are smart enough to multiply that number by 10 and find out how much I currently weigh, and I'm not ready to make that public. But I will let you know when I get there.
I could go on and on about all of this but I won't. I just want you to know that I went and I'm making the effort to work the plan. I'm doing the Flex Points plan which is working well so far (for the whole 1/2 day I've been doing it). It's a smart plan, and being as heavy as I am they don't skimp on the points they give you.
So, I'll go to my meeting on Thursday. I'll probably go twice a week. Darwin and his sister go to a Saturday morning meeting, I went with them this past Saturday and it was very fun. Shit, I need all the help I can get.
I'll get weighed on Thursday and will report what the scale says. Could this be the time that works?
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