Making Progress

Well, I weighed this morning and it was so much better than I expected it to be. I lost 1.4 again this week. That's two weeks in a row of good, solid loss. That also put me at the 15-pounds-gone mark (this time around). I'm seven pounds from my goal!!!

But the thing that hit me hardest this morning -- the moment I need to carry with me for momentum -- is the fact that I am now 41 pounds below my highest weight ever recorded. That feels like progress...

Friday Food Journal

Breakfast: Smart Ones muffin: 4 points

Mid-morning snack: South Beach cookies: 2 points

Lunch: Minestrone soup: 2 points
five saltines: 1 point
WW mini bar: 1 point

Afternoon snack: peanut butter and saltines: 5 points

Dinner: Who knows!!! Cole came home starving, and the chicken I wanted to grill this evening hadn't thawed yet. So we went to "Johnny C's" as it's called in our house. I had the wedge salad (SOOO yummy), lemon-rosemary grilled chicken with green beans, spinach and a bit of angel hair pasta. And a couple of pieces of bread. Damn that basket of fresh, steamy goodness...

I'm sure I'll be kicking myself come scale time tomorrow.

What Then???

I'm getting so close to goal -- 8 pounds away now -- but I'm doing it very slowly. Which is fine. But I had a scary thought yesterday. What if I'm losing weight this slowly on purpose??? What if I'm afraid to get to my goal weight??? Because what happens when I do???

I've spent the last four years losing and gaining and losing weight, yet this time I'm determined and ready (very important) to not go through the gaining business again. But when I hit goal, what will I be doing??? Maintaining sounds like sitting still to me. Like not making progress. Like not reaching for something. My brain is looking at this all wrong, I know. I need a new view of maintenance. Something that sounds more active and goal-oriented.

Breakfast: 1 cup Cheerios: 2 points
1/2 cup soymilk: 1 point
1/2 cup blueberries: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: South Beach snack bar: 2 points

Lunch: soup: 2 points
cantaloupe: 1 point
five saltines: 1 point

Afternoon snack: nuts: 3 points

Dinner: stuffed pork chop: 5 points
fresh applesauce: 3 points

TOTAL: 21 points. Not feeling great about stepping on the scale Saturday at this point...

Finally a Good Loss

I weighed a little early Saturday morning so that Cole and I could hit the lake at a decent hour, so that we could then go to a party Saturday evening. And I lost 1.4 pounds. Yay, me!!!

It was my first decent loss in several weeks, and I was (and still am) very thrilled. I'm hoping to lose 3.6 more before we head to NYC soon. And with that jump start, I think I can do it.

Breakfast: Smart Ones muffin: 4 points

Mid-morning snack: banana: 2 points

Lunch: quesadilla: 6 points
chips and salsa: 2 point

Afternoon snack: peanut butter and crackers: 4 points

Dinner: sandwich: 7 points
chips: 3 points

TOTAL: 28 points. Not great.

My Real Age, Revisited

Just for fun last August, I took the Real Age quiz to see what it had to say. At the time, I was 34.9 years old with a "Real Age" of 32.9. I didn't think that was too bad, and I wanted to do it again six months later.

Well, I forgot to do it six months later, but I did requiz myself almost exactly a year later (a few weeks ago). My calendar age is now 35.9 and the Real Age system told me I was 32.9. So, according to the calendar, I've aged a year (don't get me started on turning 36), but according to my fitness levels and diet and the way I care for my teeth, I'm holding steady. I think that's good!!!

My points for the day:

Breakfast: Smart Ones muffin: 4 points

Mid-morning snack: yogurt: 1 point
1/2 cup Cheerios: 1 point

Lunch: English muffin pizzas: 5 points
pineapple: 1 point
WW/Whitman's candy: 1 point

Afternoon snack: mini bagel: 2 points
peanut butter: 2 points

Dinner: pork chops: 4 points
apple: 1 point
parmesan: 1 point
snack cakes: 1 point

TOTAL: 24 points. Tomorrow is weigh-in day. Wish me luck!!!

Weight Watchers Math

I was never very good at math. I always felt good going into a math class where a calculator was on the supply list. You'd think that would help. Oftentimes it didn't.

But I'm happy to report that I can keep my checkbook balanced, and I'm sure Cole is as pleased about that as I am. But now I'm struggling with what I'm calling Weight Watchers math. It's just not fair...

About two weeks ago in our meeting, Pam talked about fiber for a bit. As any WW member will tell you, fiber is a major part of the points calculations formula. But the trick is, more than four grams of fiber won't count in your points. Four is the max you can count. On the WW points calculator, you can track 1, 2, 3 or "4 or more" grams of fiber.

Here's an example from some new soup I tried this week, with a nice eye-catching "Zero Weight Watchers Points" label on the can:

60 calories, 0.5 grams of fat and 4 grams of fiber per serving. (There are two servings in the can.) That's zero points for one serving. Perfect. BUT, if you eat both servings in the can, you have to count 120 calories, 1 gram of fat and just the 4 grams of fiber. Giving you 2 points on the calculator. 2x0=2 in this case.

I hate math.

Breakfast: 1 cup Cheerios: 2 points
1/2 cup soymilk: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: banana: 2 points

Lunch: mini-bagel sandwich: 4 points
Triscuits: 2 points
cherub tomatoes: 0 points

Afternoon snack: banana: 2 points
snack cakes: 1 point

Dinner: 1 cup Cheerios: 2 points
1/2 cup soymilk: 1 point
snack cakes: 1 point

TOTAL: 18 points. How can that be?!?!

Your Kitchen Junk Drawer

Don't be scared. It's time to face it. Or in my case, it was time to face them. I have two. Two drawers with measuring spoons and spatulas and mixer attachments for a mixer that hasn't worked in two years.

I recently saw a great idea for getting those drawers organized and cleaned out.

I wish I could remember where I saw it, but I just can't get my brain to come up with it. Here's the gist: Take everything out of that drawer (or drawers) and put it in a box. For the next month, if you use something, put it back in the drawer. (After you wash it of course.) If you don't use it, you can get rid of it. I think I may give myself two months.

Breakfast: Smart Ones muffin: 4 points
mini yogurt: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: WW/Whitman's pecan crown: 1 point

Lunch: chicken, pasta, fresh tomatoes: 7 points

Afternoon snack: my free Kashi cookie: 2 points
(Go get yours!!! They're about halfway to their goal of giving away a million free snacks.)
mixed nuts: 3 points

Dinner: steamed rice: 4 points
stuffed bell pepper: 4 points
snack cakes: 1 point

TOTAL: 27 points. That will require a bike ride in the morning.

"If It Had a Momma, It's Protein"

The Biggest Loser comes on again this evening. One episode this season and I'm already hooked. I'm not so into the competition part of it -- though I know having someone to compete with can be a great motivator for some -- I'm more into the "what lessons can I take away from the show?" part.

Last week Bob said, "If it had a momma, it's protein" after one of the participants asked how to know if a food was protein or not.

Wait, now I'm distracted. They're doing the weigh ins as I type, and some of these folks look physically saddened at the fact that they've "only" lost two pounds this week. Two pounds is great. Two pounds a week for even half a year is 50 pounds. That's fabulous!!! I wish the folks losing two pounds would get the same encouragement as those losing 10... Every little pound gets them -- and each of us -- closer to healthy.

Breakfast: toasted mini bagel w/honey: 4 points

Lunch: soup: 2 points
Triscuits: 2 points
Laughing Cow cheese wedge: 1 point
snack cakes: 1 point

Afternoon snack: banana: 2 points
snack cake: 1 point

Dinner: burger: 10 points
fries: 7 points

TOTAL: 28. Yuck.

The Way We Were

How have I not blogged since last Wednesday?!?! I have no idea where the last few days have gone... the lake, football games, taking in a movie. Time flies...

But last night at dinner (we had grilled porkloin and homemade applesauce by the way) -- as I put a spoonful of applesauce and three slices of porkloin on a giant dinner plate that didn't even end up halfway full -- I started thinking about the way we used to eat when I was growing up.

I fondly remember Sunday lunches on Gran's house that included a plate piled with pork chops or roast along with fresh fried okra, mashed potatoes and Granny's homemade bread fresh from the oven. Sweet tea quenched our thirst, then the meal was followed by pecan pie or strawberry shortcake or homemade ice cream. How did we live like that?!? I'll tell you how: We finished lunch and went outside to ride bikes or run up and down the street. We worked up a sweat seeing how high we could fly on the tire swing that Grandad hung in the oak tree. We ran through the sprinklers and built houses and forts out of old boxes. We jumped. We skipped. We were active.

Maybe we need to approach activity like we were kids again. I've dug the bike out of the garage and am riding a bit again. I have a hula hoop, maybe I should hit the backyard and swivel for a few minutes. Or roll in the grass with a dog. Or jump through the sprinkler the next time we water. Tomorrow morning, I'm definitely going on a bike ride.

My day in numbers...

Breakfast: WW blueberry bar: 2 points
banana: 2 points

Mid-morning snack: yogurt: 1 point
WW chocolate/caramel bar: 1 point

Lunch: sandwich: 7 points

Afternoon snack: WW snack cake: 1 point
cherub tomatoes: 0 points

Dinner: lasagna: 6 points
salad: 2 points

TOTAL: 22 points. Perfect for a Monday.

Going to the Dentist

I love our dentist. She's super sweet and energetic and always complimentary. She employs a great staff and always recommends natural, organic treatments before jumping into drastic medical procedures. She truly believes that our health lies in our own hands and that medicine and science are there to enhance and help, not to do all the work.

I normally schedule my dentist appointments for 8 a.m. so that there is no coffee or fruit or anything icky lingering in the pearly whites for them to find. But after trying to make the drive yesterday in the rain (I made it about four miles in 40 minutes), we rescheduled for today at noon.

Anyway... Back to Dr. Rayne's holistic approach to things: Doesn't that make sense when it comes to our weight as well??? That we should take the power in our own hands. Treat our bodies well of our own accord and not always turn to science and medicine (read: magic pills) to lose the weight. I'm trying. It's hard. Sometimes I feel like I start over every day.

But starting over -- even daily -- is better than giving up and just getting fat and letting my teeth fall out.

My day in points...

Breakfast: Kashi granola bar: 3 points
yogurt smoothie: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: snack cakes: 1 point

Lunch: panini: 6 points

Afternoon snack: Kudos: 2 points
dry shredded wheat: 2 point

Dinner: pork chops: 4 points
apple: 1 point
parmesan: 1 point
snack cakes: 1 point

TOTAL: 22 points. Nowhere near the fruits and veggies I should have had today.

Hope

I hope the sun shines wherever you are today, at least for a moment.

I hope you take the time to hug someone.

I hope you think of small blessings and know what a big difference they make in your life.

I hope you make friends with a person who was once a stranger.

I hope you remember.

I hope.

Back in the Swing of Things

I didn't weigh this Saturday, at least not on an official WW scale. But I did weigh when I got up that morning on our bathroom scale, and even after my days of traveling and eating out, I was down about a pound. I was tired and we had plans to go to the lake with friends, so I just couldn't/didn't drag myself to the meeting.

I plan to get myself back into counting points this week and officially weigh again this coming Saturday. It's been a good start to the week...

Breakfast: Smart Ones muffin: 4 points
yogurt smoothie: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: banana: 2 points

Lunch: soup: 2 points
crackers: 2 points
Kudos: 2 points

Afternoon snack: wrap with honey: 2 points

Dinner: Well, it was a good start to the week until dinner. Cole wasn't too keen on the two suggestions I had for cooking dinner here at the house, and I was really hungry for chips and salsa. So we loaded up the truck and headed to Tin Star in West Lake. I had a grilled chicken taco in a lettuce cup instead of a tortilla, with rice and black beans on the side. "Not bad," you may be thinking, and it wasn't. Until the 113 chips I had get counted in. Tomorrow is another day. AND, I'm starting tomorrow at the dentist, which always makes me careful of what I put in my mouth. At least for a few hours...

Thunder Is a Star!!!

*Special note: This post is not food-related.

But I had to tell you, Thunder is "pet of the month" over at Mutts Comics!!! How cool is that?!?!

The story: My mother is a HUGE Mutts fan -- even has the tattoo to prove it. And several months ago she let me know that Mutts was searching for stories about pets adopted from shelters across the country. Some of these "shelter stories" as they call them will go into a book where the proceeds from the sales will raise money for shelters across the nation. I entered Thunder's story and picture, hoping that the cross-country tale might catch their eyes.

We don't know yet if he's been chosen for the book, but even just being profiled as their pet of the month online and in their newsletter is pretty cool. If he makes the book, you'll be the first to know!!!

Home in Austin

I flew home from Nashville last night and we landed about 20 minutes early. (Rex's flights on Southwest were early this week too.)

I came home to a houseful of sweet doggies and kitties that all seemed very happy to see me. Thunder and I shared one of our most tender moments to date when he came and sat at my feet and looked up at me while I was unpacking some things in the closet. I squatted down to pet him, and he tucked his head under my chin and just sat there for several minutes. Such a sweet boy!!!

We're off to the lake today. Grab your swimsuit and join us!!!

My Timing Is Totally Whacked

I'm not used to eating breakfast at 6:30 in the morning. On a normal day, I get up, feed and walk the dogs, and sip on a cup of coffee my first hour of work. Then, finally around 9, I'll go into the kitchen for a bite to eat. Then about two hours later, I'll have a little snack to hold me until lunch.

While I'm in Nashville, I'm up and moving much earlier and at a much brisker pace. By 6:30 I'm awake, showered and heading for the continental breakfast in the lobby. So come 9:30, I'm hungry again. But I think if I have a snack and can talk everyone in to an early group lunch, I should be back on track come 1 p.m.

Breakfast: This morning it was Cheerios, skim milk and yogurt. Banana in my purse for my mid-morning snack.

Mid-morning snack: Said banana, and a Kashi granola bar. It had gotten too far from 6:30, and I had to have something.

Lunch: Half a chicken salad sandwich (made with apples and pecans, yummy!!!), about five sips of shrimp bisque and some fresh melon from Bosco's. And... a kid-size cup of Maggie Moo's cinnamoo ice cream. We'll call that John's fault.

Afternoon snack: Half a cup of coffee and a Rice Krispie treat (small one).

Dinner: Megan and I wandered the Mall at Green Hills for a while after work this evening then grabbed a quick dinner at Carrabba's. Neither of us really thought we were hungry for a full dinner, but when we sat down and caught the fresh aromas wafting through the restaurant, we were both ready to eat. Here's what I had: a crab cake about the diameter of a tennis ball, a piece of sourdough bread, minestrone soup, and about half of the Tomato Caprese you see above. Yummy!!!

The Land of Cream Cheese Danishes

(Photo: Somewhere between Austin and Nashville last night.)

Breakfast: Shame on the man who first concocted such a sweet treat for breakfast!!! But I'm happy to report: This morning at my hotel continental breakfast, I resisted. Oh, there were plenty of danishes ready for the taking, along with bagels as big as my head, sweet muffins and some toasted bread piled two inches high with cheese, eggs and bacon bubbling on the top. But I was strong.

Instead I opted for the Special K cereal, skim milk and yogurt. I also threw a banana in my purse to have as my usual mid-morning snack. It was a proud moment.

Lunch: Laura, Rex and I had lunch today at Noshville. I feel like I may be getting this eating-while-traveling thing down. I had a club sandwich with no mayo (ick!) or cheese and was only able to eat half of it, and a side of fresh fruit instead of fries. Mind you, they brought the giant basket of fries out anyway and sat them right beside my grapes and pineapple and melon, but I did not touch a single one. Rex and Laura are witness to my strength. I also had some iced tea with Splenda. There were some beautiful black and white cookies staring at us from the counter, and the thought of bringing one back to the office to have as my afternoon snack crossed my mind -- more than once -- but I packed snacks yesterday before I left the house so that such urges didn't take my brain over. I have Kashi bars, Kudos bars and 100-calorie Gold Fish packs. A single bite of the b/w cookie probably has that many calories.

Afternoon snack: There's a cafe in the bottom floor of our building, and I hadn't had a drop of coffee all day. Our kitchen has a coffee pot, but I'm fairly snooty and froofy when it comes to coffee. So when Megan told me the cafe closes at 3 p.m. and they serve only Starbucks coffee, I thought I'd better head down there for my fix. I had a cafe latte with skim milk. And I only drank about half of it. I can't handle coffee when it starts to get cold the least little bit.

I also had a Kashi granola bar. You know the one.

4:42 p.m. Two pieces of hard butterscotch candy.

Dinner: By the time I got out of the office and drove across town, I was ready to just grab some food and take it back to my hotel room. I did not want a burger and fries -- though that would have been so easy. Instead, I ran into Darfon's on Elm Hill Pike and ordered some spinach lasagna and a house salad with cucumber and tomato. I ate almost all the salad (balsamic vinaigrette on the side) and about half of the lasagna. I also ate a piece of sourdough bread that they included in my bag. Stinkers.

Overall, I'm pleased with how the day went...

Catching up and Flying out

Just some quick catching up before I pack a bag and head to Nashville for a few days...

When I weighed in Saturday morning, I was up a pound. A perfect ugly round pound. But I totally get it. Last week had burgers and pizza and too many things that a week shouldn't normally have. I continue to conquer this weight-loss effort giving myself permission to eat the things I want every once in a while, but last week was further proof to me that I can't do that every single day. I just can't eat the way I could when I was 20. And I do hope getting in several bike rides each week for the next few weeks will help knock these last nine pounds off. I know just one week of trying won't do it.

We did get a lot of activity in this Labor Day Weekend though. Skiing, long walks with the dogs, a nice bike ride, walking around the State Capitol and running in the rain.

Going to Nashville will not be reason for me to just eat whatever I want. I may not be able to track every single point perfectly, but I will keep an eye on portions, getting in plenty of fruits and veggies, and drinking lots o' water.

Here's how today looked before I hopped on the plane...

Breakfast: cereal: 3 points
1/2 cup soymilk: 1 point

Mid-morning snack: banana: 2 points

Lunch: wrap: 3 points
pretzels: 2 points
cantaloupe: 1 point

Afternoon snack: Kashi granola bar: 2 points

Dinner: chicken strips and fries: 8 points
(My plan is to grab a kids pack from Sonic as I land and head to my hotel. Not healthy, but quick.)

TOTAL: 22 points. Here's hoping for a good week of eating out of town... wish me luck!!!