Back on the Track

It felt good to be back on the 2-mile track today. I'm so excited. I still showed 215 this morning, and 217 this evening!

This morning, I had to have some blood drawn for a medication I'm taking. Even though I'm a turnip (can't get blood out of . . .), that wasn't very traumatic--I had a capable nurse taking care of me. What was traumatic was seeing my flabby arm as it lay on the table while the blood was drawn. Not only are my upper arms flabby, my forearms are a very close second, and I've only lost 26 lbs!!! It's obvious I have to do something besides walk. DANG! Otherwise, what will I do after I've lost the other 81 lbs I plan to lose? Oooh, I could buy leotards with varying sleeve lengths and wear them under my clothes. Ooh, then I could wear tank tops and spaghetti straps!

I digress. While I was waiting for the "expert" to draw my blood, I used the little squeezy thing to do some arm exercises.

A pair of ankle weights have been on my desk for months, practically in my way all the time; I could use them. Maybe God is trying to tell me something! :O) I've been carrying a stretchy band in my bag for months. Today I took it out and did some arm exercises while we walked. But only for a few minutes. Not only does the band work my arms, the exercise helps raise my heart rate. I'll try to do it again when we walk Thursday & Friday.

Food:
grilled cheese sandwich (4)
5 cookies (30)
3 pieces of fried chicken
5 pieces of bread with margarine

Exercise:
8556 steps (2.7 miles according to my pedometer)
I drove to meetings today. I just don't have the time to walk this week. But I will walk to Weight Watchers Thursday!

Not a Typical Monday

I weigh 215 (not official)!

Life will not be typical again for a while. We are one short, and we've been busy -- even without having to divvy up the work among us.

I can't wait until payday -- I'll be able to fill the pantry and fridge again. I'm sort of getting tired of beans. I bought lots of tomato products payday before last and lots of beans this past payday. I've run out of pasta, except for spaghetti. So we'll probably have spaghetti tomorrow evening. I had a hankering for Church's Fried Chicken this evening, but their debit card computer was down, so we ended up at Bill Millers. Our fried chicken ended up being mainly white meat, which I hate. But I managed to get 3 pieces down and a few fries.

OK, enough junk food! Tomorrow I'm going to a brown bag seminar, so I'll grab a sandwich on the way. I LOVE the cafeteria's chicken salad! Maybe I'll just get a couple scoops of chicken salad instead of a sandwich. Hmmm. I could pair it with a small salad.

Food:
Grits with margarine (2 servings) (6)
Ranch Style Beans (8)
3 pieces Fried Chicken with 1 serv french fries (is there really a serving of French Fries?) (way too many points)

Exercuse: (actually I mean exercise, but exercuse is more like it)
2409 steps (I feel like such a slug)

Another Missed Church Opportunity

My cat Sox tried to wake me up, but I refused. He tried everything -- meowing; playing with a plastic bag, which drove me nuts; getting in my face; then finally, he started kneading his front paws on my stomach. He was pretty insistent. I finally got up about 7:30. I hardly ever have the opportunity to sleep late, and when I do, it's usually at the expense of my spiritual replenishment. I'll have to start sleeping later on Saturdays instead.

We had a pretty busy afternoon beginning with a work appointment for my son, then we grabbed a chopped bbq sandwich from Bill Millers and an Avon delivery to a friend, followed by a visit to Wal-Mart 20 miles away because the internet said they had the phone I was looking for. Not only did they not have the phone. They didn't even have a slot for it in the display. The Website was wrong. We weren't too happy about that. So we ended up at the AT&T store to lower our phone service. I just can't afford $161.32 every month for phone service. Unfortunately, I'm the one suffering. I now have a phone that doesn't have a qwerty keyboard, and my son has my Matrix phone which was too complicated for me to work. As long as you have a smart phone, you have to pay for data, which is 15-30 a month. I don't want to pay that anymore. We both have computers with internet, and I don't see why I should pay for internet AGAIN. It's not over, we may switch to Sprint or another service provider. AT&T just doesn't want to work with us. I've been a customer of theirs since January 1996, and I must not be that important to them.

We ended the day with burgers and fries. A hamburger! I haven't had a hamburger since December 2009 or even before that! It was gooooood! I even ate the fries. So, I'm good for a while now.

I spent most of the day at my computer working and researching. Then about 7:00, I finally knuckled down and began in earnest to whittle down the speech I'll give Sept. 15. I have lots of good info, but it's more than 15 minutes. I can't imagine talking for more than that without boring everyone to death. My speech should be 15-20 minutes. I'm going to opt for 15 minutes.

Exercise:
2319 steps

Family Day

Today turned out to be a day to see family. I shopped with my daughter and grandson. Then I took my grandson to my ex's house and visited with my granddaughter there. We had hot dogs for lunch. Then I got home in time for my son to go to a graduation party. Oops, I forgot he had that planned. We are down to one car, so we should be coordinating our schedules. As many times as we talked about the party, I completely forgot.

We're a few days away from payday, so the food choices are pretty skimpy. I just realized we missed another Angelfood month. I'm going to have to take care of that on payday for next month.

Food:
sausage link (4)
hot dog (turkey weiner on whole wheat bun)
Mahatma Spanish rice (5)
concoction of penne pasta, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and pinto beans -- the jury is still out.

Exercise:
1604 steps

It's Friday -- Do You Plan to Exercise?

Well, this is the first weekend in ages that I don't have much to do. I feel like I should get out and be physical. But, it's an Air Quality Alert day in Sunny SA, so I'll probably lay low. Maybe I'll go to the mall. I keep threatening to go to the mall and walk. We still have a couple of those relics around that let the shoppers be inside instead of walking in a straight line from one shop to another.

Today was a great day at Toastmasters! We had 14 around the conference table. It was nice to see the table full for a change! And we had a good meeting. I evaluated a speaker, and I felt good at the lecturn. That's good because I'm giving a 15-20 minute speech Sept. 15, and I'm a wreck. I think I'll work on that speech this weekend.

I feel guilty because I drove to deliver Avon today instead of walking, but I was in a time crunch. And I'm not walking tonight, so I HAVE to get some in this week. I walked 3 days this week, which is good, but not good enough.

Food:
sausage link (4)
Salad with kidney and garbanzo beans (4)
chicken sandwich (4)
b-b-q chicken (thigh & leg)
large salad with cheese and bacon bits

Exercise:
3041 steps

On Track . . .

My weigh in today was good! I lost .8, so I'm at 216.4 and back in the right direction. I've lost 26 lbs!

I got so inspired that I updated my chart with my 5%, 10%, 15%, . . . goals. These will be the goals I reach for rewards. So, my next reward comes at 206.4! It'll have to be something good!

Looking at the chart, I think last week's gain was the smallest I've had. So, I MUST be learning something!

Food:
sausage link (4)
chicken sandwich, (lunchmeat with 2 slices whole wheat bread) (4)
turkey with mustard (2)
Nature Valley Nuts 'n' Honey bar (4)
Chili w/beans and fritos with spanish rice

Exercise:
Walked to weigh in (so far I've walked 2965 steps)
Walked 1-1/2 miles
7059 steps

Woo Hoo - 215!

According to my scale at home (not official), I'm at 215!

If I keep this momentum up, I'll be down 2 lbs at Thursday's weigh in.

Now, I have to ask myself . . . Why do I sabotage myself every 5 weeks or so? Is that healthy? Is it normal? Should I plan better?

For instance, next Tuesday there will be a lunch seminar about co-dependency. I plan to attend. They have cookies and tea. I plan to partake. Luckily, my parents instilled a modicum of appropriate behavior in me that keeps me from taking more than 2 cookies at a time. But I may make more than 1 trip. I need to remember that there are plenty cookies for all, and there will be some at another occasion, so I don't have to eat that many. As a matter of fact, I get jittery when I eat more than 2 cookies. Maybe this time I'll just take one at a time . . . hmmm. Novel idea.

I just got a reminder about a meeting this afternoon that will have milk and cookies. Now's my chance ;O)

I noticed this evening that my pedometer has a screen that has kcal on it. I guess that's the number of calories I'm burning? Today it is 138. But I don't think that makes up for the pizza or the cookies. Not even one of each.

Food:
sausage link (4)
chicken sandwich (lunchmeat with 2 slices whole wheat bread & dijon mustard) (4)
Cheese-Broccoli rice (5) (Mahatma)
4 cookies, 1 1/2 pint low-fat milk
4 slices small pizza

Exercise:
8435 steps

On the Road Again!

I went straight to the scale this morning because I've been so good, and I was rewarded with 217! Of course, I've been here before. I feel like I've been on one of those circles and can't get off. I remember when I was 16 and we spent the summer in New Braunfels. That circle in downtown NB made me a nervous wreck. I'd sometimes go around 2-3 times because I was too terrified to get off.

Well, maybe that's what's happening to me. I'm getting into new territory, and it's scary. Truly, I'm learning my limits, and I'm losing slowly. And slowly is the way to lose weight. Right?

Losing weight is hard. We want to do it quickly. Why? Probably so we can get right back to eating like we did before. Which is dumb! We all know it's dumb, but how many times have we lost weight only to gain it back and then some. Actually, I've dieted myself to this weight. Sad, but true.

So, the smart thing to do is to learn something along the way so we can enjoy a different journey.

I used to have a poster that reminded us to enjoy the journey. And that's what we should do. Enjoy the lessons, enjoy the triumphs, enjoy the off-scale victories, enjoy the things we learn about ourselves and our resolve.

So far, this journey has led me to my walking partner, and a great group of people in our Weight Watchers @ Work program. I also started this blog, which is cathartic for me. I'm putting myself out there. I'm stretching and growing. So far the sights and sounds have been worth the sacrifice.

Hey, it's not like I'm not enjoying a good meal occasionally. I HAVE to learn how to incorporate the real world with the weight loss world. One of these days, I may actually really believe that half a cookie is just as good as 3! I'd probably get hauled off for being off my rocker. Oh well!

Food:
2 egg whites with red bell pepper and mushrooms (0)
salad with 1 boiled egg, lots of field greens, broccoli, cauliflower, bacon bits, and a light vinaigrette dressing (4)
1 small slice cornbread with honey butter (3)
1 turkey sandwich with whole wheat bread (2) and dijon mustard (4)
1 sausage link with 2 slices bread and dijon mustard (6)
1 lemon LA Light bar (old, but it was sweet) (4)

Exercise:
2 miles (4800) + 3947 steps = about 8747
Unfortunately, my pedometer was in my car when we walked the 2 miles.

Too Hot!!

I wimped out today. I couldn't make myself walk the 2 miles with it 100+ outside. I told myself I'd walk at the mall, but I can't make myself leave the house now that I'm in the comfort of my cozy home.

I treated myself to a salad today for lunch, and walked to the cafeteria to get it, so I did get some exercise in.

Food:
sausage link (4)
salad with boiled eggs and cheese (8)
Mama Rosa's pizza, 3 slices (10)
2 bun size weiners

Exercise:
Walk to the cafeteria and back
3600 steps

Taste Is Everything

I'm becoming distressed because not only does food not taste good. It's actually starting to taste bad. I treated myself to one of my favorite drinks today, a Diet Coke with Vanilla from Sonic, and I don't like the taste. I barely drank it. When I drink the lemonade drinks you mix with a bottle of water, all I taste is the salt in the packet. I don't taste the lemon anymore.

Luckily, black-eyed peas, Ranch Style beans, and other foods are still palatable, but the "fun" foods aren't fun anymore. Hmmmm. Maybe God is doing this to make me follow the WW plan. Well, I do have a problem with a weak will when it comes to food. But it would be nice if grapes and apples tasted good anymore. But I haven't enjoyed either in a while.

Food:
2 egg whites, slice of 2/3 fat cheese, 2 slices whole wheat bread (3)
chicken thighs (4 of them)
Linguini with tomato sauce and Italian sausage
1 doughnut at church (I'm sure they took out the calories)

Exercise:
1922 steps

How Did I Get Back on the Scenic Route?

Somehow or other, I ended up on the scenic route again. I got on the scale this morning, and I weigh 220 AGAIN! Dang! I guess it's a good thing that I didn't go to lunch yesterday. I'd probably be over even that! It wasn't just Thursday and yesterday. Now that I think about it, it started with that pizza Tuesday and Wednesday, fajitas Wednesday night, and everything. I haven't eaten a "Weight Watcher approved" lunch or dinner since Tuesday.

After my hair cut appointment this morning, I'm going to buy low-fat, high-fiber, nutritious, low-point food with flavor. Hmmmm. Is that possible? I'll wear comfortable shoes and spend time reading labels. (later note - I haven't done this yet.)

I hear there's another Weight Watchers plan rolling out soon. Unless this new plan includes tying my hands behind my back or selecting and cooking food for me, I don't know how this will work.

Wow! Where did that negative thought come from? I must change my thinking. I can do this . . . It's a matter of taking care of myself, wanting good things for myself, remembering my "Why." My why is to get off meds -- oh, and to look gorgeous. I'm tired of rattling to bed every night and swallowing a handfull of pills morning and night. I'm also tired of spending $90/month on meds.

Choices! It's hard to make the right choice. Or, I should say I make it hard. After 8 months, you'd think I'd have learned some things by now.

I have this lack mentality. Well, not really lack, more like "when will I get this chance again?" Truly, I'll get the chance. Even if the restaurant closes because I don't eat there (would that be so tragic?). Another will open in its place. There is no shortage of places to eat -- some better and healthier than others.

I made a decision to go to Texas Road House because it was close by. And I chose foods that I thought were better for me. Unfortunately, I should have cut it in half and bagged half before I started. Well, next time I will.

If I had bagged half, I would have been just as happy. I ate the whole thing because (and this bad -- don't let your kids see this) once I realized I was full, instead of quitting, I felt like it wasn't enough to save and a shame to waste, so I finished it! Now isn't that the dumbest thing you've ever heard? I'm not making this up. This is exactly what that little voice was telling me. I've got to be more mindful about listening to the "easy, for the moment" thoughts and compare them to the "right" choice.

Oh, it's so easy to armchair quarterback my poor choices of last week.

I need to remember that I'm not making this trip alone. I pay good money to Weight Watchers for their support and guidance, and I have friends in the group I could talk to about choices. Especially if I know I'm going somewhere questionable ahead of time. I could email them and ask if anyone has any suggestions about where to go or what to get once I'm there.

Anyway, I'm glad to have had this opportunity to think and reflect about my poor choices of the past 4 days. I walked 2 of those 4, but it wasn't enough! I have to remember that I have to work off more than I eat! OK, enough beating myself up, it's time to repack and get back on the highway!

I ran errands this morning, fully expecting to walk to a friend's house later. I wasn't sure exactly where she lives, and it's HOT outside, so I had my son take me there instead. I went there to help her pack up to have her furniture moved today so her floors could be redone, but by the time I got there, she was finished!

Food:
1 sausage link, 2 slices whole wheat bread, 1 tbsp lite margarine, 1 tbsp sugar-free preserves
1 sausage link
2 flower tortillas (4), chicken fajitas

Exercise:
2086 steps

No Clothes, No Lunch, No Car, AND I Was Stood Up!

I didn't plan today very well. I didn't pack my walking clothes; don't ask me why. I didn't bring my lunch because I was supposed to have a lunch date. And my son is borrowing my car, so I don't have a car.

Well, I was stood up, and I'm wearing shoes that aren't comfortable to walk to the cafeteria. But, I have a can of Black-Eyed peas and a can of Ranch Style beans. I did talk myself into buying a Diet Coke as a treat. The Coke machine was practically empty, so I came back empty-handed. I just now realized that I didn't decide to have a package of chips or peanuts instead. I didn't even look at that other vending machine. This is a big deal! WOW! I'm shocked. And very pleased.

Anyway, I'm celebrating that as an off-scale victory today.

Food:
3 egg whites with 1 tbsp cheddar cheese
1 can black-eyed peas (4)
Texas Road House Roadkill
salad with Ranch dressing
baked sweet potato with 1tbsp margarine
10 peanuts
1/2 ro1l
1-1/2 glass sweet tea

Journey to 135, Weigh-In Day

I have my fingers crossed that I do well today at the Weight Watchers meeting.

I try not to think about the scale and make permanent lifestyle changes instead. Because we have to measure our progress and evaluate and adjust, the scale is a part of the process. I noticed my neck is starting to develop a wattle. And I have loose skin around my middle. These things were not there before. Actually, they were, but filled in, so they didn't feel so weird. I do walk faster and taller than I did before. I can just imagine how awesome I'll feel when I finally arrive at 135!!!

I think I undid all my good work this week in the last few days. I'll see how well pizza and fajita tacos work on a weight-loss plan.

Well, I gained .4. My chart is consistent. I lose 5 weeks and gain. As long as the losses are more than the gains, I'm on the road to 135. But my son and I have discussed that customer appreciation pizza is a thing of the past. We'll have to find something else to have for a treat that's better and more nutritious. And, I didn't HAVE to have the flour tortillas with my fajita meat. Plus I didn't HAVE to have that slice of bread dipped in the meet drippings.

After the meeting, I walked about 1.3 miles to drop off Avon orders, pick up returns, and pick up a free lunch - Rudy's Bar-B-Que with all the fixin's, mmmmm!

I got to babysit this evening. We went to Alamo Cafe to meet a friend. I enjoyed myself and ate like I wasn't trying to lose weight. But, it wasn't too bad. Of course, I haven't added the points. The whole day has been a disaster diet-wise. After dinner, my grandson and I went to HEB. He ate grapes while we shopped. At first I held a couple of grapes under the vegetable sprayer to rinse them off. Then we went to the water fountain so I could rinse some off. He ate them while we shopped. I hope I can be forgiven for letting him eat grapes before I paid for them. I guess I should have weighed them before. Gosh, now I think of that.

Food:
2 egg whites with 1 tbsp cheddar cheese
6 oz bar-b-que brisket 1/2 link sausage with 2 tbsp bbq sauce
1/2 c cream corn
1/4 c pinto beans
3/4 c peach cobbler
1 sl white bread
2 beef puffy tacos w/guacamole, rice, beans
12 tortilla chips
2 glasses sweet tea

Now that I see it all listed -- it's not good. Maybe I should be tracking this all day instead of waiting until the end of the day. Then I'd adjust my eating at the end of the day to accommodate the unfortunate choices during the day. I wasn't expecting Rudy's BBQ when I made the plans to go to Alamo Cafe. I should have adjusted and had a salad instead. I actually would have been perfectly satisfied with a taco salad or something like that. This is still a learning curve -- as long as I learn from each experience, that is.

Exercise:
Walked 1.3 miles and I have the blister to prove it.

Journey to 135, Visiting New Territory!

I got on the scale this morning and it showed 215 (not official)! This is just getting better and better!

We ran out of snacky foods several days ago, so I don't have marshmallows, crackers, chips, anything to eat between meals. I haven't bought fruit in a while because I find it so tasteless. Maybe I need to go to somewhere else for fruit, like Whole Foods or Sun Harvest.

Today I packed 2 slices of pizza, and that was my lunch, cold pizza. I had my 2 pt crisps, and 2-1/2 beef fajita tacos with avocado. I am starting to crave fruit. I HAVE to go to the store tomorrow.

Tomorrow I weigh in at WW @ Work. I hope I didn't undo this week's hard work.

I'll have to wear light undies and think thin.
Food:
2 biscuits w/lite margarine and sugar-free preserves
2 slices pepperoni pizza
WW crisps (2pt)
3 flour tortillas, lots of beef fajitas, 1/2 avocado, 1 slice whole wheat bread

Exercise:
2-mile track after work
7291 steps, 46 min. aerobic for 4842 steps
Still haven't synched my pedometer.

Journey to 135, Not feeling profound or inspired

I don't feel very profound or inspired today. It was the first full day at work with several new duties. I'll definitely have to rev up my engine and fill my tank because this may be a bumpy ride. I worked through lunch, so I only had time for a can of black-eyed peas. Don't get me wrong. I love black-eyed peas right out of the can. Mmm mmm good! But I also like to relax while I eat.

Today was customer appreciation day at Little Caesar's. We decided the discomfort my son goes through after eating pizza, and the possibility that I might gain weight are enough to make us decide they can appreciate other customers from now on.

Was it really 99 degrees outside? When I got in my car after walking, the thermometer said it was 103 and it was parked in the shade!!! It always runs 4 degrees hot, so I figure it was 99. We walked the track in 46 minutes.

Food:
2 servings of grits with 2 tbsp margarine (7)
1 can black-eyed peas
1 pkg WW wheat crisps
3 slices med pizza

Exercise:
2 mile track (46 min)

1 chalupa shell

Journey to 135, It's getting easier!

I never thought I'd say this - I look forward to walking after work every day.

Today, I couldn't wait to hit the track. I did the 2 miles in 45 minutes (2 minutes faster than before); there were 3 others on the track, one walking and the other two were jogging. When I walk alone, I take my phone - just in case. I'm loaded with accoutrements, my pedometer, my cell phone, my MP4 player, and my little towel. The main problem I have is perspiration dripping in my eyes. Other than that, I'm good to go. An awesome thing that I've noticed is I don't have to start wiping my eyes nearly as early as I used to. And the track seems to be getting smaller each time. And when my walking partner is there, I talk almost the whole time, and time just flies. I let her get a word in edgewise occasionally ;O).

This is all so cool.

I have so much more energy. I walk at a faster pace than I have in many years. Today I took linguini with Alfredo sauce for lunch. And I finished it off for dinner, mainly because I didn't want to stand at the stove to cook anything elaborate. I'm thinking about making beans and rice for lunch tomorrow. I have so much energy in the morning that I've been cleaning the kitchen, making lunches that involve cooking. Plus I read a little, watch Scrapbook Memories on BYU-TV, and sometimes I come in here and start my blog.

Next week school starts, so I'll be leaving really early to beat the school craziness and blog and read at the office. I told my boss I'd probably get there in my jammies and get dressed at the office. Hmmm, I could walk . . .

Food:
1 egg sandwich with 2 slices whole wheat bread & mustard (not my favorite) (4)
linguini with Alfredo (5)
WW Multigrain Crisps (2)
linguini with Alfredo (10)

Exercise:
2 mile walk after work
8785 steps, 4733 aerobic steps, 2.75 miles
I get the feeling the way I walk isn't 2 miles. But I haven't synched my pedometer with my stride yet.

Journey to 135, My sense of taste is gone! 10-08-15

OK, something's wrong here!

I decided to have a doughnut today after church. When I was almost finished eating the doughnut, I realized it was tasteless. I don't get it. Food doesn't taste good anymore. I started noticing it when my Diet Cokes with Vanilla (Torani's Sugar Free syrup) didn't taste good anymore. I bought some M&M's Friday morning, and they didn't taste good. I eventually finished the little package, but I didn't enjoy them. So, you might ask...why would I eat them if I didn't enjoy them or they didn't taste absolutely fantastic? I don't know!!!

I had a friend who didn't have a sense of smell. Nothing tasted good to her, so she had to have spicy or rich sauces on all her food. And at restaurants, she always asked for extra sauce. I have a sense of smell, but my taste buds seem to be on sabbatical. Wouldn't you think this would make me pause before eating? Well, like I've said before, "I'm a tough nut to crack!" It'll take me a while to get the message that food doesn't taste good, but I'll eventually get it. Like after I had my knees replaced, it took a while to retrain my brain. Now I have to train my brain that food is for nourishment, not pleasure.

Today about 3:00, I was nodding off at my computer at work, so I decided to go for a walk. I actually look forward to my walks after work now. I walked around the block of 3 buildings. And it really refreshed me.

This morning I had a little vision problem that I thought might be caused by my blood pressure, so I pulled out one of my monitors and it was 116/65. I don't think my blood pressure has ever been that low. I'll have to go check it again when I finish this blog. Maybe I was doing it wrong.

Food:
2 egg whites/"No fat" refried beans, mozarella cheese (4)
whole wheat spaghetti, tomato sauce, 1/2 Italian sausage (6)
cheese sandwich (2 slices whole wheat bread, 2 2/3 fat cheese, mustard) (4)
whole wheat spaghetti, tomato sauce 1 Italian sausage (11)
25 points total

Journey to 135, Finishing off the Cake ;O(

Yesterday caught up with me. I gained about 2 lbs! I knew I wasn't behaving, but sometimes you have to let loose. Today I'm starting out with grits mainly because I love them and I don't feel like cooking anything.

I'm working at the office today on a proposal, so I need to find something to pack for lunch. I put my pedometer on first thing this morning, and I've already walked 222 steps, and that's just to the kitchen a couple of times for coffee.

I managed to finish off the leftover cake from yesterday. And it wasn't even good. Food has been tasteless to me lately. But that doesn't stop me. For lunch we went to Bill Miller's and I got a poorboy plus with french fries. Everything was tasteless. Maybe my body is craving salt because I'm sweating it all off while walking after work. Anyway, food doesn't have to taste good for me. I'll eat it anyway. BAD Plan!

I had a very sedentary Saturday because I ended up editing at work and reading while I waited for an appt. I only walked 2421 steps.

Food:
2 serv grits with 2 tbsp lite margarine (6)
1 poorboy plus with french fries (too many)
1 small salad with Lite balsamic vinaigrette dressing
2 hamburger patties

Exercise:
2421 steps

Journey to 135, Friday the 13th

Today is Friday the 13th. It's been a good day for the most part. I started out being productive. I ate breakfast, loaded the dishwasher, sent emails to my Avon customers saying their order was in and how much it would be and that I'd deliver Monday. I grabbed some brochures and headed off to work. I left early enough to stop at Walgreen's and get some name tags. Alas, I waited until the last minute, and they didn't have any so I got labels. They did the trick.

We planned an 18th birthday party for Slick Talkers to see if we could gather prospective and past members. It worked. We had a new member sign up and a former member rejoin. It was a small intimate group. We had fun and caught up on each other's news.

Our fare included pizza and cake. Of course, I ate pizza and my share of the cake along with sweet Bill Miller's tea. So I definitely have to hit the track.

I am absolutely amazing myself. After work, I changed and hit the track. Alone with my MP4 player. Earl Nightengale and I walked the 2 miles together. I did it in 47 minutes just like last night. Then I came home ate dinner, and before I knew it I was sound asleep in front of the TV. Or at least I would have been if my needy cat would have left me alone.

Food:
2 egg/mozarella cheese omelet on chalupa shell (3)
4 slices pizza (24)
2 slices cake (10)
2 large glasses sweet tea (6)
5 chalupa shells 2 slices 2/3 fat cheese (7)
YIKES!!! That's 50 points! I've already used my 35 extra for the week and it's only Friday!!!

Exercise:
2 miles after work
Total of 8464 steps today (not counting running around the house getting dressed this morning)
4919 aerobic steps and 2.67 miles total
HMMM. I'm going to have to pay attention to how many miles before I start my 2-mile walk. Maybe it's not 2 miles after all.

Journey to 135, Working on Bikini Body?

WooHoo!! I think I've lost another 2 lbs!

I got on the scale this morning and weighed 215 (not official)! This is new territory. I weighed about 214 after my first knee surgery Nov 2008. The lowest I've weighed in 15 years is 204.

Walking seems to have revved up my metabolism, and I'm headed in the right direction! Like someone said at our WW meeting last week, I've been on the scenic route to 135. Now I seem to be back on the highway.

My walking partner and I are planning to take a cruise -- somewhere. We're looking at our possibilities. She's never been on one before, so we might take a short one in the Western Caribbean or maybe fly to Spain and cruise the Mediterranean. Life is full of possibilities, and we want to take advantage of as many as possible. Wherever we go, I need to start putting at least $2,000 aside! Yikes!

Because we're planning to vacation soon, we want to lose as much weight as possible so we can feel good and look good. Maybe Mr. Right will be on the boat ;O). You never know.

Well, I lost 1.2 lbs today. I'm happy.

Tonight I ate half a Rotisserie chicken from HEB. It was the original recipe, and it was really tasteless. I guess that's why I kept eating it. I'm wondering what's wrong. I don't enjoy fruit anymore. It seems tasteless. The pizza from Little Caesar's Tuesday night was tasteless. I'm not enjoying food anymore. I guess that could be a good thing. But not if I keep doing what I did tonight. Eating hoping I'd enjoy it eventually.

That's just crazy!

Food:
2 egg white omelet with cheddar cheese (3)
sandwich with 2 slices whole wheat bread, turkey & 1 slice 2/3 fat cheese, mustard (4)
WW Multigrain crisps (original) (2)
16 oz skim milk with lite chocolate.
Diet Coke with sugarfree Vanilla flavoring

Exercise:
Walked to WW meeting
Walked 2 miles after work
Walked 7,064 steps (finally remembered to wear my pedometer today)
According to my pedometer, 4,850 steps were aerobic for 47 min. That must have been when I walked after work.

Journey to 135, Life as Usual

Today we have a meeting to discuss our Toastmasters celebration of 18 years as a club. The party will be this Friday, and I'm disappointed that we only have 15 RSVPs so far. I'm hoping I'll be surprised when I check evite.com today.

Last night, I vegged! I haven't done that in a long time. I had the house to myself, and I relaxed in my recliner, learned how to use my TV remote control, and petted my cat.

It's funny, I lowered the number of channels on my U-Verse account, and I now like the channels we have more than when I had 3 times as many channels.

I didn't plan lunch well for today, consequently, I was hungry all day. But I managed to avoid the vending machine. Only by sheer willpower.

I read something interesting in Success Magazine. I'll have to see who wrote it. The article said we spend more time listening to ourselves than we do talking to ourselves. Do you know that means we let that little voice that gets us in trouble all the time call the shots. We should be TELLING ourselves how to live a better life by doing more, thinking more, studying more.

Food:
1 serv Grits with 2 tbsp lite margarine (3?)
1 cheese sandwich with whole wheat bread, mustard and 2 slices 2/3 fat cheese (4)
1 serv sugar-free apple sauce (1)
12 baby carrotsm (1)
3 oz beef with potatoes (6)
5 chalupa shells (3 with mozarella cheese) (11)
1 glass skim milk with lite chocolate

Exercise:
Walked to another building for a meeting
Walked 2 miles after work

Journey to 135, Still Have Mo

If I don't watch it, I'll get so small, the wind will blow me away. Wouldn't that be nice? Actually, I weighed about 216 (unofficial) this morning. My face is starting to show some contours. They're subtle, but there are definitely changes. In the photo to the right, my face is very round, and I weighed less than I do now.

I finally have Mo (momentum) going for me after yo-yoing for almost 3 months losing and gaining the same 2-3 lbs. Although I knew it was because I wasn't following the WW plan, I raised my hand when our WW lecturer asked how many felt they were on a plateau. I wasn't on a plateau -- I was in control, but I'd relinquished it to that damned little voice. That was a turning point for me. To get momentum back on my side, I increased my walking, stopped listening to that little conniving, lazy voice that wanted me to stay fat, and started counting points (sort of). I definitely started making better food choices. And it's paying off. My walking and weight loss partner started having problems as well. Maybe I was a bad influence.

Now that I'm in the 210s, I lose another point. I started at 28, now I'm down to 25. I do worry that I may lose enough points that my metabolism will slow down more. When I was on the LA Weight Loss plan, I was losing weight like crazy. Then, when I got to a certain weight, my eating plan changed, the weight loss stopped almost immediately, and I couldn't get it going again. I wasn't walking or exercising then because it was before my knee surgeries. Maybe that would have helped. Actually, every time I walk, I can add 2 points back to that day's count. I should do it for the extra snack I can have ;O). But that would be rewarding myself with food. ;O( Gosh, I'm going to have to figure this one out.

I made egg salad to go in my spinach/lettuce salad for lunch.

A group from work toured Haven for Hope today. The tour had us standing outside in the heat (shaded for the most part, but still hot) most of 2 hours. Then, back at work, I walked to another building for a meeting. I wasn't up to walking after work.

Today was customer appreciation day at Little Caesar's. A pizza for $5!

Food:
2 egg white omelet with mozzarella cheese (3)
10 baby carrots (1)
salad of spinach, lettuce, and 2-egg salad with salad dressing, mustard, and sweet & dill relish (7)
1 bag animal crackers (5)
1 med avocado (8)
3 slices Little Caesar's pizza (18)

Exercise:
Touring Haven for Hope
Walked to and from Adm bldg.

Journey to 135, Ready to Get Back on Track

I'm ready to get back on track!

I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Last night, I slept from about 10:45-3:00, uninterrupted. I went to the bathroom; afterward I couldn't get back to sleep. I finally put Belleruth Naperstek on, and in no time I was sleeping. Then I couldn't wake up. While I dressed, I listened to the affirmations again.

My lunch was defintely diet food. Mainly because I didn't think ahead and fix anything to take. Bad plan!

I think tomorrow I'll make egg salad and take an egg salad sandwich to lunch.

Food:
2 egg white omelet with cheddar cheese (4 pts)
2 cups salad with 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt with Ranch dip powder mixed in
12 baby carrots
1 bunch tasteless green grapes
hamburger with 85/15 ground beef, salad dressing, mustard, 2 slices low-cal whole wheat bread
1 peppermint

Exercise:
2 miles alone listening to Jim Rohn

Journey to 135, Babysitting and Birthday Party

Today is my grandnephew's 8th birthday. He's 8 on 8-8-10. I'm taking my grandson to his birthday party in a city park from 11-2. That has to mean picnic fare, most likely hot dogs (yum) and birthday cake! Ooooh, I can't wait.

My grandson woke up 3 times last night, calling my name. The first 2 times, I put him back to sleep and climbed back into my bed. The 3rd, I fell asleep on the extra bed in his room with my head on my arm. I woke up 45 minutes later with my arm, shoulder, and right side numb or hurting. Yesterday, he fell and bumped his head against the coffee table, which caused a bruise and bump on his forehead. If I don't watch it, I'll be banned. Last time I had him, I closed his fingers in the car door. Luckily, the door didn't close completely -- probably because his little fingers were there. And by the time we got to the other side of the car, he stopped crying. He did remind me later that I smashed his fingers in the door. He's so cute, and so smart, and so vulnerable. To wear him out last night, we went for a walk. The last time we did this, he pushed the tricycle, this time, he pedaled and I sort of pushed. It's an ingenious contraption with a handle conveniently located for an adult to push, redirect, or stop the tricycle.

I thank God every day that I had my knees replaced. In October, it'll be 2 years for my left knee and in May it was 1 year for my right. Before the surgeries, it was too painful to do much of anything. I injured my left knee in 1995 bowling, and that was my good knee. Arthritis took over, and they gradually grew worse until I could barely do anything. The cruise I went on in 2008 was hard for me. Just the walk from the room to the elevator and then to the rest of the ship was excruciating. Then 9 months later, I had the left knee replaced. The change was so remarkable that as soon as I could I had the other done.

Then I had to retrain my brain that the pain was gone. It was amazing how long it took me to remember that getting up to do something wouldn't be painful. And I had to rebuild and strengthen muscles. Then Weight Watchers set up a 5K (3.1 miles) walk and training schedule. A friend and I decided to do it. Now we walk 2 miles at least 3 days a week. Last week, I walked 4 times, not necessarily the whole 2 miles each time. But I got out there. There's a 2-mile track that is a loop with no way to cut it short without turning around and backtracking. That's my favorite place to walk, and that's where I go when I'm alone, because no matter how determined I am when I start, the little voice in my head tells me that I should cut my walk short because... you name it. It always comes up with something good.

Anyway, that's past history. Now I need to redefine and reshape my body. I took a look at it this morning on one of the rare occasions I saw myself naked, and noticed I'm beginning to develop pockets of skin and soft fat that needs to be worked. I have the equipment at home to do it. I know I can't convert fat to muscle, so I have to build muscle to help reduce the fat cells and do something to regain elasticity in my skin.

If you know of any way to do that, please comment to this blog and point me to the information. You don't have to be a member anymore. I want people to comment, so I made it easier.

Gosh, this blog is long, and I haven't started the day yet ;O).

Food:
1 slice small cold pizza
handful of Cheerios
1/2 handful of M&M's
2 hotdogs with dill relish & mustard
3 large Fritos
6 tortilla chips
2 tbsp potato salad
2 tbsp dip with corn, sour cream, spices
4 chalupa shell nachos with cheddar cheese
Strawberries

Exercise:
Walked with Roc to the playground at the park.
Kept up with Roc (for the most part)

Journey to 135, Busy Busy

We had nothing to eat, so I had to go to the store first thing this morning. It was pleasant at 7:15, hardly any shoppers, but the aisles were full of stockers with their boxes and carts blocking the way. They all apologized and mentioned that they were behind. They are looking for stockers. I might apply :O)

After shopping, unpacking groceries, and starting laundry, I finally made breakfast.

Today is going to be different. I have things to do here, like load the dishwasher, finish my laundry and pack to babysit. Then on the way to babysit, I have to stop by Target to get a birthday present and Altar Guild things at church. It'll be a full day. I didn't sleep well last night; I'll probably drink LOTS of coffee so I can keep up with my grandson.

Food:
3 egg white omelet with spinach and mozzarella cheese
1/2 turkey, cheese, avocado, bacon burger (cold)
broccoli
M&Ms
rice/chicken breast casserole with cream of mushroom soup

Exercise:
Walked for 30 minutes or so with my grandson

Journey to 135, A Cruise in Our Future?

OK, I know you're probably tired of seeing "I'm excited!" But I am!

A friend and I have decided to take a cruise. I've been wanting to do this one for 2-1/2 years! Now I HAVE to lose as much weight as I can before the cruise. I'm motivated now!

Notice my new title? 135 is my target weight, and I realized I hadn't mentioned it since the first post or so. 135 should be in front of me at all times. I have to visualize me at 135. I may have to do more photos with my head on nice bodies so I can "see" me at 135.

One of my struggles is that I don't have a realistic image of what I look like. In my head, I'm thin -- actually, I'm voluptuous and gorgeous. But in reality, I'm not; gorgeous maybe, voluptuous, maybe, but thin, NOT!

Last night was the first time I didn't celebrate a weight loss -- I must be learning something ;O) Then after walking 2 miles at my friend's pace (actually a bit slower than she naturally walks), I weighed 216 on my scale at home (not official).

Food:
1 serving grits with big glob of lite margarine
1 salad from the salad bar at Marie Callendar's with fat-free vinaigrette
1 small slice cornbread, which is dry without lots of margarine
2 cups brown rice (left over from last night)
6 chalupa shell cheese nachos

Journey to 135, 10% At Last!

I'm excited! According to my scale, I weigh 217 (not official), so I can't wait to weigh in today officially. I'm definitely buying some 2-pt snacks to help tide me over when I HAVE to have something. I have time to run to the store before my eye doctor appt to get some food, and I probably will. That way I won't be tempted at the cafeteria like I was yesterday.

I'm having a hard time waking up this morning, which is very unusual. I'm usually up and ready to go at 5:00. Actually, I naturally wake up every morning between 4:10 and 4:24. Do you do that? Wayne Dyer says it's the Holy Spirit talking to us and we should get up and do something creative when that happens. I usually just go to the bathroom and crawl back in bed. Dyer's written a couple of books during that time of each morning.

Today I'm going to buy a pedometer. The ONLY thing I don't like about walking after work is it curtails running errands afterward. Truly, I could go to the fitness center and shower and dress. Hmmm.

I just made a decision to set a goal of 197 by October 7. That's 9 weeks away, and if I continue to do what I'm doing, actually following the Weight Watchers plan better, I should be able to lose the 20 lbs necessary. See what happens? I see a glimmer of hope and I get excited. Then when I don't do as well, I become disillusioned. But you have to have a goal, and you have to stretch yourself, and you have to make changes, and you have to learn from any mistakes you make. Right?

YIPPEEEEE! I weighed 218! I finally hit 10%!! I opened my Excel file to update the chart and saw that yesterday I put in 218 as a visualization exercise. It came true! I got the 10% keychain! I'm really excited now. Plus I bought a pedometer at CVS which was on sale from 35 to 23.97. Now I can keep track of how much I walk and challenge myself on that avenue as well.

Oh, and another thing. I actually threw away 1/2 an apple today. I don't think I've ever done that before. It wasn't as good as I wanted it to be and instead of eating it anyway, I threw it away. Watch out world! My afternoon snack was a small bunch of green grapes. They didn't taste good either. Very tasteless. I'm disappointed in HEB's fruit lately.

By the way, I'm putting 135 in the title of my posts because that's my goal, and I haven't mentioned it lately. If the title has 135 in it, I'll be reminded more often. Always thinking . . .

Food:
1 serv grits with 2 tbsp lite margarine (YUM)
1/2 large apple (1)
1 HEB Lean Selections (5)
20 green grapes
Chicken breast with rice made with beef bouillion(?)
spinach
2 peppermints

Exercise:
2 miles after work

Weight Loss Journey, Sabotaging Myself AGAIN!

I completely forgot the Krispy Kreme cream-filled doughnut that I had yesterday when I ate that 3rd piece of pizza last night.

Today I'm not much better. I had a decent breakfast and packed celery for lunch, planning to have a salad from the cafeteria. I got to the cafeteria and didn't even think about the salad until I had a bowl of tortilla soup (not much more than broth with 2 tortilla chips) and a chicken salad sandwich (on whole wheat ;O)) on my tray. Then, this afternoon, I got a package of peanuts and checked the points - 8! Holy cow! I thought it was 6! That's too much for a snack. I decided to blog about it and finally threw away the last of the peanuts. It was a step in the right direction. Today I'm definitely going to have to walk the 2-mile track. I have my MP4 player charged and ready.

On another note: I've noticed that my pants are loose around the legs and back end. The waist band and my tops aren't getting looser yet. I can only assume this is happening because I've been concentrating on walking. I'll have to figure something out.

Food:
1 egg with 1 oz mozzarella cheese (5 pts)
1 bowl (2 cups) tortilla soup (5 pts)
1 chicken salad sandwich (on whole wheat) with lettuce, tomato slice (10 pts)
7/8 pkg peanuts (7 pts)
1 pickle spear (0)
1 stalk celery (0)
1 corn dog with mustard
1 lg diet coke w/vanilla
4 large marshmallows (2)
---------------------
27 pts so far. It's only 3:00!

Exercise:
Walked to Cafeteria and back
Walked the 2-mile track (50 minutes) while listening to As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, read by Earl Nightengale

Weight Loss Journey, Walking for Fun?

Today was another crazy day. Now everyone else seems to have gone off the deep end. Luckily it's dumb crazy, not mean crazy. I used to be told I didn't have any common sense. Well, sometimes I think I'm the ONLY one with any lately. SNAP!

I listen to Belleruth every night and decided to listen to the affirmations this morning while I put on my makeup. A strange song was going through my head, and I was tired of it. Belleruth definitely made the song end and gave me something good and constructive to listen to. And it's very relaxing.

Our mailroom refuses to deliver my Avon books for me, so I HAVE to do it MYSELF! Of all the nerve ;O)! I walked to Bldg. 189 today during lunch. It is a gradual downhill to the bldg. My bag was full of Avon books and an order to deliver. But coming back it was up the gradual hill, which didn't seem so gradual toward the end. Luckily, all I had left to carry was a check! I listened to my MP4 player with Earl Nightengale talking about "As a Man Thinketh" and Our Boss (the customer). I didn't clock the distance, but I did the walk, including up stairs into the buildings to the receptionist of 4 bldgs in 28 minutes. I walk a 20-minute mile, so that would be a little more than 1 mile. I'm glad my deodorant works because I was really "glowing" by the time I got back to my office.

I used to suffer walking from my car to the building and back. Most summers, I didn't even go outside. This is the first summer I'm actually getting tanner. So, that makes me beige instead of porcelain. Now, I walk 2 miles at 5:30-6:15, which is the hottest time of the day. I'm getting cramps trying to pat myself on the back ;O)

Food:
2 egg white omelet with mozzarella cheese (2 pts)
1 Krispy Kreme cream filled doughnut (at least 9 pts)
1 serving angelhair pasta with pesto (5 pt)
3 stalks celery (2 pts)
1 serv applesauce (1 pt)
3 slices Little Caesar's pepperoni pizza (customer appreciation size)(18 pts)
6 large marshmallows (3 pt)
2 peppermints (1 pt)
Now that I've added this all up (and remembered the Krispy Kreme, I'm disappointed. I'm not acting like someone trying to lose weight. Plentyoffish.com was right. I definitely lack discipline.

Exercise:
Walked 3 miles (1 + 2)

Weight Loss Journey, Making Progress

I'm definitely making progress -- my pants are getting a little looser every time I put them on. I have a pair of gray pants that used to pull funny around the thighs. I assumed they were poorly made. Now I realize they were just too tight. ;O)

Today was one of those days. I wanted to walk during lunch. So when our standing Monday lunch meeting cancelled, I was glad. Unfortunately, I screwed something up on our website, and I spent my lunch hour trying to fix it. Not only did I not get to walk, it was 2:00 before I got to eat! That was really a blessing in disguise because I was still full from lunch when it was time for cake.

We celebrated the end of mentoring a high school student for 6 days. I was her main mentor, and we set it up so she visited several of our areas, spending enough time to get a real feel for what they did. She was so cute!

Anyway, exercise was postponed, but I plan to walk the 2-mile track the rest of the week. My walking partner is going to walk 2 miles on Tuesdays and Thursdays and work out with weights Mon-Wed-Fri. I'll be on my own those days. My MP4 works and is loaded with good personal development stuff so I'll walk-n-learn.

Food:
2 scrambled egg whites on whole wheat bread w/1 tbsp salad dressing
1-1/2 cups angelhair pasta with pesto
4 pieces of celery (equal to one stalk)
1 piece of chocolate cake (the corner)
1-1/2 cups penne pasta with spaghetti sauce
6 large marshmallows

Weight Loss Journey, Reunions

This has been a weekend of reunions!

My son went to El Paso to see his best friend. Saturday night a bunch of us from our graduating class got together for dinner. A mini reunion. There were some I hadn't seen in 20-40 years!

Today, 3 of my cousins on my Dad's side of the family got together for dinner in Kerrville. I hadn't seen them since their mom died about 14 years ago! There were 25 of us at least! We met at a great restaurant called Billy Gene's on Junction Hwy. Our waitress was Lynn, and she was awesome! The kids switched places a couple of times, and she kept up with them. I was very impressed. She offered to take a photograph of the group of us. We should have taken her up on it.

I mentioned yesterday that I would be challenged because of these events. I didn't handle last night very well. But today I was much better.

Food:
2 servings of Grits with 2 tbsp margarine (6 pts)
1/2 serving King Ranch chicken (8 pts)
1/2 baked sweet potato with butter
green beans
vanilla cone from Sonic
large Diet Coke with Vanilla