2 Miles - 40 Minutes

I walked the 2-mile route for the Turkey Trot this evening after work. As I topped the hill, I decided to finish the 2-mile route. Then, halfway around the top part of the route, I didn't want to continue. I talked myself into finishing because I figured it was just as far to turn back as to continue forward.

I didn't realize how many inclines there are on this campus. Isn't anything flat anymore?

Anyway, I did it!

Tomorrow I start the 2-day detox. No protein. Only apples and vegetables. I stopped at the store this evening and bought some salad stuff and cabbage to make soup. Unfortunately, I'm too tired to make soup tonight. I'll make some tomorrow night. Cecelia said to eat edamame for protein. And she said spinach was a good source of protein too.

We'll see how I do.

That Hill Don't Scare Me No More

Today, I tried something new - I walked down first and finished the mile going up the hill. It took longer, but I feel like I've arrived because that hill doesn't scare me anymore. I'm cured!

I can't tell you the many ways I've avoided that hill over the years. It's not a high hill, just a sustained incline. There are 4 more, much more challenging hills that I feel compelled to conquer. But, one at a time. I'm working on this one for now. My challenge is surviving the Turkey Trot.

Tomorrow, I'll park in the Fitness Center lot and begin there to attempt to walk the entire 2-mile stretch. Then, once the Turkey Trot is over, I'll challenge myself to walk the other hills. I'll probably have to do them during lunch because it'll be getting dark sooner.

I welcome company if you would like to join me. This evening, I had a song (House of the Rising Sun) running through my head the entire time, so it's not like you'll keep me from profound thoughts.

If you don't want to receive my blog emails, let me know. It won't hurt my feelings.

I conquered the hill!

I went straight to the Fitness Center Saturday morning and walked up that hill. When I first started walking, I realized I was walking a bit too briskly to keep up the pace, so I slowed down a bit. I wasn't in a hurry, really, just on a mission. The sun in my eyes and wind in my ears made me glad I had a hood for protection, but they weren't a deterrent. I made it up that hill with only one break. I stopped once I was almost at the top to catch my breath, but that was all.

When I got back to my car, I saw that it took 22 minutes round trip. Then I clocked the distance with my car, and it was a bit over .5 miles from my car to the top; I did the mile in 22 minutes. I'm so proud of myself! By 10:20, it wasn't humid any more, and I am in better shape than I was 2 years ago. I hope to end up in the middle of the pack Turkey Trot day instead of at the end.

My daughter wants to approve the black jeans before I wear them. Dang! Fashion police! I'm not one to follow trends, I probably started mom jeans without realizing it. I wear clothes that are comfortable. Well, truth be told, the past few years, I wear clothes that I can find to fit. My closet is full of items that are old and pretty worn out because they're old faithfuls, and they managed to fit through my weight losses and gains.

One of my goals is to be able to wear my wedding dress again. Then I can get rid of it.

In case you're wondering, I've been following the Perfect Solution plan since I got home Friday - for 2 reasons - I'm on it to lose weight, and I don't have any extra cash to buy anything that isn't on the plan.

I'm craving a piece of my special pizza. I mean really craving - I think about it all the time. The only way I can get it is to order a pizza. I can't buy it by the slice, get it at a buffet, or have it as half a pizza because it is made without sauce. The good thing is my son is getting more and more serious about losing weight too, so there won't be anything tempting in the house anymore. We've been making our own meals since I started PS, so I'm not tempted to "taste" anything to make sure it's not poisoned. ;O)

I'm eating more fruit and vegetables than I have in my whole life. I love salads, and I missed them terribly when I started avoiding food that I was allergic to. I have at least 1 apple a day, which is good. I have an apple slicer that I carry around with me because that seems to be the only way I can eat an apple. It becomes finger food once it's sliced. I don't seem to mind the browning as much as I do when I just eat an apple. My salads are still simple with balsamic vinegar and safflower oil and a bit of chicken or fat-free cheese on top. I especially like the fat-free mozzarella on my salad. YUMMM!

Today I'll take Halloween costumes to Salvation Army during the lunch hour so I'll have to eat on the run. At least I'll be getting out of the office.

Another 1 bites the dust!

They say confession is good for the soul. I can only attest to the support and good wishes I received from my friends because of my confession. It's funny--I received an email reminding me that these things happen and we should learn from them and that planning is key, a friend called to let me know that it's not the end of the world and I can get right back on track, and I even ran into a friend who read my blog, which is totally weird in the first place because we work in different buildings, and she was also very supportive.

Then when I went to weigh in, I felt so much better and lighter (mainly because I was wearing the lightest-weight clothing in my closet--totally inappropriate for the weather) that I was disappointed that I lost only 1 pound! Call me crazy, but I couldn't help but have a positive attitude.

Without my saying anything, Cecilia said she wants me below 200 by the New Year. Gosh, isn't that what I was saying?

This week has a 2-day purge in it. I'll do it Wednesday & Thursday. Vegetables & fruit only. She said I'd be hungry, but she gave me some recipes that I can eat to stave off starvation.

I have 3 pairs of black jeans that have been hanging patiently in my closet since 1989 or so. I might have been able to wear them in 2006 when I lost weight, but it wasn't for long. I tried the jeans on this morning. I can get them on. I can button one pair, but can't quite get the zipper up. The other 2 are tighter, and I can't even begin to close them, but I can get them all the way up! That's an accomplishment. I also have a pair of blue jeans that I wore in 2006 that I'm dying to get in. I'd like to wear at least the black jeans by Nov. 9. I should be able to do that. Then the blue jeans by Thanksgiving. I'm still shopping in my closet. I wore a blouse that I wasn't able to button last time I tried.

When I finish this blog, I'm going to the Fitness Center to start practicing walking the killer hill that I have always avoided. The Turkey Trot is Nov. 17, and it starts by going up that hill and walking the rest of the 2 miles around the campus. The last time I did the Turkey Trot, I was the second last to finish. That hill almost did me in. It was humid, and my lungs were screaming. I couldn't catch my breath. I was ready to turn back when a friend walked by and encouraged me to continue a little longer. This year, I want to be the encouraging one.

Confession time

Tomorrow is weigh in, and for the first time since I started PS, I'm not looking forward to it. I expect a 2 lb gain this week (at least). I'm trying to figure out the lightest weight clothing I have in my closet so it's not so devastating.

I screwed up royally this week -- many times. It started Saturday when I had 2 small sugared donut holes and a raisin/cinnamon bagel. The rest of the day was good. Sunday was good. Monday and Tuesday nights I was starving by the time I got home, and I couldn't stop eating -- BAD plan.

I realized what was going on, and Wednesday, I adjusted and made sure I had my afternoon snack even though I ate 4 cookies at a lunch-time seminar. The messed up part is I ate my lunch before the seminar so I wouldn't be hungry -- and I wasn't. I proudly passed by the table laden with cookies and sat in the front of the conference room and chatted with an old friend. Then I got up, walked back out of the conference room and got 2 cookies. After the seminar, there were cookies left, so I helped myself to 2 more.

It just dawned on me that I should have helped myself to one cookie, eaten 2 bites and thrown it away.

This whole week has been all about mindless eating, reverting to bad habits, and completely forgetting all the things I've learned.

OK. Now it's out of my system. I'm miserable because I messed up so badly. I will follow the plan to the letter until Thanksgiving. Hopefully I'll have another 10 lb loss for the month of November, then I'll reach my first BIG goal of weighing less than 200 by Christmas. It looks like I'll have to add exercise -- yikes!

2 more down!!!

My progress as been steady and consistent. I lost another 2 lbs this week, which means I've lost 19 lbs in 6 weeks. I want people to say "Wow, you look good. Are you losing weight?" But no one seems to notice. Oh well. I'm not doing it for them. I'm doing it for me.

Who is this person? She looks like me, but she's certainly not acting like me. I've become disciplined about the things I eat, with an occasional "cheat." But, even my cheats are not bad. I may have beef twice in a week, or eat after 8 p.m. When we go to Alamo Cafe, I have a salad with shredded chicken, no dressing. It is really one of the best salads.

The best part so far is shopping in my closet. I'm wearing a pair of size 16 pants that have been hanging and collecting dust for the past 2 years. I also wore a blouse that hasn't fit since I first bought it. My sister gave me 2 beautiful blouses for Christmas a couple of years ago that I can button now, but they are still too tight to wear. I'm hoping I'll be able to wear them by Christmas. My goal is to continue to lose 2 pounds a week consistently.

My nutritionist is very supportive. This week's focus is adding more vegetables. We buy packages of salad fixings and I mix them up in a very large bowl. When I'm ready for a salad, all I have to do is fill a bowl and chow down. I really like the balsamic vinegar and safflower oil dressing I've been using.

I've been concentrating on vegetables - mainly salads. And I feel so much better than I did before I joined PS.

The next thing to do is start exercising. My arms are really developing wings, and I'm starting to develop a wattle (that skin hanging down under my chin). It's really sad how saggy I am already. I've just lost 19 lbs and I'm already saggy. What will I look like after 90 lbs? The key is working out. DANG!

Another 2 bite the dust!

I changed my weigh-in day to Friday because I could leave work early instead of taking a long lunch. Honestly, I think the long lunch was a better idea. But this gives me one more lunch hour to do something like shop or walk around the block. Unfortunately, I'll probably spend it working. Yesterday, I worked straight from 8:00 am to 8:45 pm. My butt hurt from sitting so much. But, I digress.

I was a bit nervous this time at weigh in because I blew it Wednesday bad! My son and I went to a speech contest expecting to have something to eat because it was from 7-9. When I got home from work, I made a quick cole slaw and gobbled it down what I could while I was freshening up. When we arrived at the contest, they offered snacks - Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies and packages of cheese and peanut butter crackers and iced bottles of water. I held off until the break when I got a package of cheese crackers and a package of cookies. I ate them both. Then at the end of the meeting, I got another package of each. When we got home, I ate them, breaking 2 rules - eating after 8:00 and eating crap! I also broke my rule about taking 2 bites and throwing away food that wasn't on my plan.

I ate every crumb - even though I didn't enjoy them. Then shortly afterward, guilt set in. I felt so guilty about eating these horrible foods. I've never felt like this before. Then, about 2:00 a.m., my stomach rebelled. Cecilia said it would happen eventually if I stayed away from this kind of food long enough. She was right! I truly expected to have blown my diet. I was afraid that what I'd accomplished in almost 5 weeks was chemically balanced, and I blew the balance and all loss would come to a screeching halt. Thursday and today, I was extra good, except last night when I ate after 9:00 because I got home so late from work.

When I weighed in today, I was very pleased to hear that I lost 2 lbs! That makes 26 pounds in all since I joined Weight Watchers December 22, 2009. Twenty-six pounds in 3 years isn't very impressive, I'll grant you that. But it's 26 pounds! I've actually lost 19 lbs in 5 weeks, and I'm so excited. If I continue to lose 2 lbs a week, I'll be at my goal weight by July 20. I still plan to weigh 135 by 5:00 on June 4. This means I'll have to add exercise to my plan. DANG! Diet AND exercise - how cruel ;o(

I've actually reached the point where I don't get hungry much anymore. I can't believe I just said that. Since I was 8 years old, I've always been hungry or eating so much that I didn't feel hunger.

We went to Alamo Cafe this evening for dinner, and I had my usual shredded chicken salad. It has guacamole and cheese on lettuce, shredded chicken, and a sprinkling of other vegetables and tomatoes. It's very good. It doesn't need dressing because it is awesome just like it is. I really enjoy this salad. As a matter of fact, that's what I've been ordering there for the past 2-3 years, and I'm not tired of it yet. I used to order something different each time we went, but once I tasted this salad, I've pretty much stuck with it. I had 2 tortilla chips after I finished the salad. They seemed a little stale, so I didn't eat more. And I drank unsweetened tea.

I'm really excited about the changes I've made and the choices I continue to make. I plan to stick with this plan until I reach goal. Of course, I said the same thing about Weight Watchers, but I've not been successful with WW in the long term. There are too many choices, and I couldn't find a combination of foods that served me as well as what I've found through Perfect Solution. The great thing about PS is I'm not taking pills, no special anything that will end once I reach goal. That's what I like. It's something I think I can continue through to goal, maintenance, and the rest of my life.

My clothes are starting to feel loose, my tops are feeling big. I have 3 pairs of pants that I can't wait to wear. One pair fits now but a little too snug. I wouldn't want to commit to a full day of wearing them just yet. I think 10 more pounds, and I'll be in them. I think I wore them when I was at 206 before.

So far I've been able to wear a couple of tops that have been lost in my closet. The last time I wore them, they were snug, so I put them aside. I have t-shirts that I bought in Jamaica in 2008 that I've been dying to wear. And I found a t-shirt that says "Objects under this shirt are larger than they appear" that I'd love to wear again. I bought it about 1988 or so. I just couldn't get rid of it. It's too cute.

I wore a skirt yesterday! And heels! And pantyhose! Of course, my feet hurt and the pantyhose were itchy by the time I got home, but I felt great being able to wear them again. The last time I tried to put them on, I got them to my thighs and gave up. I don't remember when I wore a dress last. I'm thinking it was around my daughter's wedding 5 years ago in September. That's way too long.

I can't wait to be able to cross my legs. Of course, with artificial knees, I probably shouldn't. But knowing I can will make a world of difference. I'm sure lots of these things will come back about 170-180 pounds. That's when I lost some of these things and I had to start taking medication. I'm assuming that things will change dramatically at that point. That's only 36-46 pounds, which may be 6 months from now, but it's something to look forward to.

25 LBS!!!

I LOST 25 POUNDS!!!

When I stepped on the scale this morning I was so excited! This journey was tough until I put my head on straight and found a plan that works for me. My "it's not my truth" friend told me the weight would just fall off, and it is.

I've never been on a plan like this one. It incorporates all the things my body needed. Fruits, vegetables, white meat (turkey, fish, chicken), no sugar, and no salt. I've known for 35 years that my body doesn't handle carbs well, yet I was still eating them.

My blood pressure was getting to be a problem since my allergies were discovered because I was substituting salt for the other spices that I can't use - namely garlic and onion. I was suffering from gout, which meant we added 2 more meds to my routine. I really rattle to bed and out the door in the morning from all the meds and vitamins that I take. But, I'm healthy and happy!

I've lost weight in my backside and feet - of all places. Actually, my stomach is starting to show some changes. Now I need to incorporate exercise into my routine. I don't want to be thin and flabby.

I'm on the road, and it's looking promising.

Eating Well

The food list is very limited for the Perfect Solution Weight-Loss program, at least for the first few weeks.

I've had fun trying to make the food interesting. It's challenging because salt (including celery salt, garlic salt, seasoned salt, and onion salt) is not allowed, and I'm allergic to garlic and onions. The food actually tastes like it should, not like everything else. 

Some of my meals included things like spaghetti squash with marinara sauce and grated Parmesan/Romano cheese.

I have a whole egg and egg white with a sprinkling of fat-free cheddar cheese and diced pieces of turkey bacon made into an omelet for breakfast.

One of my favorite foods is cole slaw. I make it with mayonnaise with olive oil or with balsamic vinegar and safflower oil. Either is delicious. 

The nutritionists at PS suggest steaming our food in Ziplock steamer bags. When I steam my protein, either Tilapia (fish) or chicken breast strips, I usually throw my vegetables in the bag with it. It's a one-bag meal. 

I went out to eat three times this week - I had Tilapia with veggies twice and a salad with shredded chicken. I skipped the bread, hushpuppies, tartar sauce, and chips that came with the meals. I feel so in control!!!

Today I had a tuna/egg pancake -- oops, that means I had 2 eggs today ;o( and I put it on a bed of cole slaw. It was delicious!

Since Sept 8, I haven't had bread, pasta, salt, or sugar. I used to eat peppermints all the time. I haven't been tempted to have one, even though there's a cup of them on the dining table.

I bought a couple of fruits that weren't on my food list. One was the most delicious honeydew melon I've ever tasted and the other was a pineapple. After I finished the honeydew, I noticed it wasn't on the list. That's when I noticed the pineapple was missing as well. I cut it up and took it to the office.

Apples aren't so bad after all. And I really enjoy eating oranges. Strawberries are in season, so I've eaten my weight in strawberries. Having 2 fruits a day has really been a treat.

Another Successful Weigh-In

I almost couldn't wait to weigh in today because I felt so good about the results. And I was right! I lost 2.4 lbs! That's 15.5 in 4 weeks - all in my butt and feet (of all places!).

Even with three challenges, I lost weight. I've made some really good choices in the past week, and I'm pretty proud of myself. My only downer was that I haven't been drinking water like I should.

Saturday I went to a birthday party. Cecilia suggested that I take food I can eat, so I took a bowl of cut up fresh fruit and 2 broccoli cole slaws - 1 with Mayonnaise with Olive Oil and the other with Balsamic Vinegar and Safflower Oil. All were delicious, and I ate only my sides with 2 chicken legs and a slice of brisket. While everyone was filling up on chips and dips before the meal, I ate fruit. They were saying they were going to be full when the food was served, yet they kept eating. It was definitely eye-opening watching everyone doing what I usually do.

I'm so glad I'm following the Perfect Solution plan. Not only are we getting help with the food choices, we are also receiving positive ideas and reinforcement daily.

One of the suggestions was to eat 2 bites and throw the rest away. Two bites is really all you need. More won't satisfy any cravings, especially emotional cravings. When the cake was served, I took my piece, ate 2 bites (filled with frosting), and threw the rest away before I could change my mind. I felt so in control!

Then, yesterday I went to a meeting that had breakfast tacos galore, sweet rolls, and fresh fruit. I opted for a few pieces of fruit because I ate a light breakfast earlier. Then, last night, I met friends at Mimi's Cafe and ate a great meal of Tilapia and steamed vegetables.

I celebrated by going to Alamo Cafe this evening with my son and ate the shredded chicken ensalada with salsa. I ended the evening with one tortilla chip dipped in salsa. It wasn't as good as I remembered, so I stopped with that one. I ordered unsweetened tea, but their tea was so strong that I only had a couple of sips.