Fighting the Dark Cloud of pudge!!

Just wanted to make a quick post to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

After one week of test driving the new diette (hopefully this will avoid spam!) I have lost 1 pound.  Not bad considering I have not really fully followed it.  Tonight was no exception.  We had a lovely New Year’s Eve Dinner (DH and I took Mom out so it was early) at a nearby somewhat posh hotel.  It was a four course fixed menu.  I ate all of mine!

I did go on the treadmill for 30 minutes and do weights for arms and abs.

Oddly enough I  tend to register the most waitloss (again for spelling to avoid spam!) the day after I did not workout.  This has plagued me throughout my life!  Does anyone else find that?

So I end the year at 198.  It is only a matter of time before I reach 197.5 - the number that never leaves!!!

Cheers, everyone!

Yes, I forgot to name my post last night.  You definitely know you’re sleep deprived when that happens!

I was too tired to workout today! On a brighter note, I did not gain any weight after last night’s dinner extravaganza!

OK, I am off to register at the dept store.

Take care!

Thanks for  all of the positive feedback on my 1/2 pounds loss.  One small step for mankind….

I actually did reasonably well today, all things considered.  This morning I spent 40 minutes on the treadmill - ok, I am not running, just walking - but it was still 40 minutes.  And then I did the legs and abs weights.  Again, I am using only 5lb weights, but noting that I build muscle mass very quickly (yes I have THAT body type mixed with the butterball type), I don’t like to use high weights.  Instead I go for three sets of 12 reps, where possible.

My downfall?  We tried a new restaurant tonight.  The chef competes in the culinary olympics! AND he is making my wedding cake (yes, you may recall my postings about meringue mountain just a few days ago).  I shared a muscles appetizer with one of my brothers and had the Thai pumpkin coconut seafood stew.  It was heavenly so it must have had fat in it!!!  AND, I did have a dessert - it wasn’t too big but I had to have one.  It was a frangelico mousse dome.  AND it was heavenly.

I must admit I ate too much.  I was “content” after dinner, before we had dessert.  AND I could have left it there, BUT he is closing now until mid- Feb.  Guess it was a reindeer situation, and I fell for it!

Back to the gym tomorrow!

Cheers

Shari

First of all, thanks for all of the support.  Aside from the abundance of SPAM, I am getting wonderful support and suggestions from you all.  Much appreciated.

Today was a somewhat “what the heck” day.  I did have some bagels (yes some…three small bagels with nothing on them still hot from the bakery.  I couldn’t resist) for lunch.  I did have the “to die for” Godvia chocolate carmel drink.  I only skipped the whipped cream because they did not have any.  Why oh why?  In part the frustration of trying to find a parking spot in a mall which boasts over 1000 spots all of which were filled!!!  My Maid of Honour (wedding in July) suggested we meet there.  It took me 30 minutes to find a spot.  Apparently it took her 45.  I parked behind the snow mountain the plow left.

After we enjoyed our drinks and caught up I left for the supermarket.  There I saw them.  An entire shelf of beckoning Lindt reindeer….. “Chunky, we know you can hear us…..come bite our heads off! and only $2.00 and change”  I resisted.  After all, who likes being called “Chunky”??? 

On a brighter note, the test drive has awarded me with a 1/2 pound loss already!  I hope to do better in the actual “race”!

Cheers!
Shayna

I saw that heading posted on an advert for quitting smoking and thought it was appropriate for weightloss too.  As I ventured around town today  I felt the beckoning call of Saint Cinnamon, Smoothies and other assorted “ok in moderation” foods.  I was quite proud of myself for buying an apple instead of a smoothie, but I did give in to the Godiva hot chocolate.  Dark chocolate is good for you, after all.  AND I did have that last piece of meringue cake (actually it was small and Mom had part of it).

All of those times when I say to myself “Lindt chocolate reindeer on sale….<and I LOVE to bite their heads off when I am angry>” I realize there will always be a “Lindt reindeer” that I can somehow justify eating.  Or at least buying with the intent of eating later.  AND if there will always be some “reindeer” to eat, then there will be plenty when the weight comes off.  I am definitely trying to get my head around that!

Today I discussed my Mother’s smoking with her.  This is someone who started smoking in her teens.  She is now 80.  She has COPD from all of that smoking and is quitting.  If someone can break an addictive habit she has had for almost 70 years, then who am I to bitch and complain about not eating a reindeer?!!

This morning I walked on the treadmill for 30minutes, and lifted weights for 15.  Yesterday I worked arms and abs.  Today I worked legs and abs.  I find it somewhat strange that the gurus of weight lifting tell us to let the large muscle groups rest a day in between workouts but abs do not need that. Seems a bit odd to me.  Also, what about people forced to do heavy labour?  They had to keep working major muscle groups - no doubt they were sore.  Still, I only do three different exercises for each. So, I am sure my body is not being taxed by it all.  AND no, I did NOT stretch before walking! (I know someone wants to know!!)

As for the diet, it wasn’t too bad.  I can eat all the fruit and veggies I want.  Actually I can even eat all the damn turkey in the fridge (no dark meat left incidentally) if I want to. I like that freedom.  My test drive today was reasonably successful.  Yes I ate some “sin” foods, but I can have those in moderation and as I am still test driving, I am consuming things I know will be off limits when the “real driving” takes effect.

My husband comes into town tomorrow night so I am not sure how much posting I will be doing over the next few days.  He leaves on Jan 6.  It is hard having a long distance marriage, but we are hopeful that his immigration paperwork will pass quickly and then he can move up here from CT.

I will be on again before New Year’s eve!   Iwill try to post daily.

Cheers!
Shayna

Well, day 1 of the test drive had its peaks and valleys.  I did work out on the recumbent bike for 30 minutes, followed by about 15 solid minutes of weight training.  As I have been weight training since the 1980s it is more of a ‘reminder’ to the muscles than a ‘building’ of the muscles.  Some are now awake and not too happy about it!

I also walked most of the way to the mall - I did about 10 minutes of walking and realized that it was too cold to be  walking! It made me wonder why nice knit tush warmers had not been a rage rather than leg warmers.  After all, whose shins get that cold??!!

Alack alack, I could not find a copy of the “Divas Datebook 2008″ .  Granted I had not been able to find it prior to this so why it would magically appear today, I do not know.  But I HAD to see.

I did have a slight problem with the test drive.  The options on the die-t were not the problem.  The problem was the meringue cake I had for Xmas dinner which my Mother requested a piece of (the woman is just out of the hospital after all) for herself and our neighbour. Cutting it, did me in.  From there I figured “what the heck” as I so often do.  Soooo, obstacle 1 really is the cake (two pieces left so that obstacle will shortly be gone - although I am guessing a new devil will arrive before New year - but after that….) and obstacle 2 is getting over “What the heck”.  Any advice on the latter?

I will be taking this baby out for another spin tomorrow.  This is what I mean by test driving.  I need to iron the bugs out BECAUSE once I do get underway, I NEED to lose 2.5 pounds a week.  Yes, a hefty goal.  Yes, I know it won’t happen some weeks.  BUT if it can happen more weeks than not…well, then I am happy. (This from the woman who took a year to lose 19 pounds!).  Yes, the speedway is calling!

Cheers

Shayna

OK, I know it is the holidays and yadda yadda yadda.  But I am going to try to test drive my new “plan” starting tomorrow. I have been reading about bridal bootcamp, Oprah’s bootcamp and bootcamp in general.  The mind is willing, but the timing sucks.  There is no way I can work out 6 days a week when I work fulltime for 5 and night school for 2!  So, I will do my  best.  I have also read over the WW guide.  The Core plan is new to me, hence the test drive, but I have plenty of lean turkey on hand!!  So, wish me luck and I will let you know how it goes.  Flower, I will post you DAILY (yes daily!!!) after the new year - when this test drive ends.

Vroom Vroom

Shayna!

Thanks everyone for your good wishes regarding Mom.  I know it is a busy time for everyone so it was especially nice of you to send notes, and prayers our way.  Mom actually got to come home today.  Naturally she is overdoing it - in her room calling EVERYONE.  (if you hear a ring, it could be her!!)

My mind is now turning to THE PLAN.  Some time ago I realized that weight loss, like most things, requires planning.  You cannot just sing up at WW or anywhere else, without putting thought into it.  I have been reviewing my old WW Week 1s (how many of those do you have??  I have at least three!).  I am thinking that if I want to learn to eat healthy, I should look to the Core Plan.  It was then I realized it is called a “plan” and not a diet, so maybe WW does know a thing or two about these things!

I want to start my Plan on January 2 and would prefer not to drop more money at actual WW meetings.  (Goodness knows last time I joined for 6 months and ended up at my starting weight).  Flower is being cforced into  being my WW buddy.  I still think I need to do more research before I am fully prepared to take on this endeavour…hence why I am starting to look into planning NOW!  Goodness, knows, if I cannot lose weight to fit into a nice wedding dress for July 6, (when we have the family wedding) then when will I be motivated enough to do it??

Enjoy the festivities over the next few days.  Throw caution to the wind with eating (but not drinking if you are driving!).  I will be snug as a bug in my condo (no, we do not have bugs in our condo!!!) taking care of Mom and walking the pooch.

Cheers

Forever planning

Shayna

I was pondering today, as I often do.  Today’s topic of pondering was Why is it when we are under stress, our bodies crave “bad” foods and not healthy foods?  I would think that if you are under stress your body would want you to eat healthy foods to keep you in peak shape.  Wouldn’t that make more sense???

Mom is improving.  My sister, who I emailed about this on Thursday FINALLY decided to email me back to see how Mom is.  I know, every family has one!  Anyway, Mom may actually be out on Tuesday!  Not that it matters.  Better she is fully well than we eat turkey on one night rather than another.

Sadly I learned one of my old neighbours has been in  ICU since Dec 4 when he suffered a massive heart attack.  He was only in his early 40s and in great shape.  He had taken up ballet many many years ago as a stress reliever and use to teach it to under priviledged kids as well as take his weekly class.  I had heard from his spouse that he had stopped ballet just a while ago.  Ironically, the “well” partner is the overweight one.  Guess you never know.

Take care

Shayna

Just wanted to update you all on Mom.  She is in an isolation room, on oxygen.  Her dx is pneumonia exacerbated by her COPD.  She is very chipper and the added oxygen has given her the fuel necessary to point out shortcomings in our health system to any staff who dare venture into her room!  In all honesty, her complaints are justified.  On the brighter note, a recent study showed less people died in this hospital than any other downtown hospital!

She is getting stronger each day. I doubt she will be out before Xmas, but then again, it is not a big deal around here. I had bought a turkey (which I left in the car in the cold garage as I have no fridge/freezer space for it).  So, if we actually celebrate a day or two later is it such a big deal?  It is only the two of us this year anyway.

I am pressing for her to see a lung physiotherapist.  This time last year Dad was in the hospital and it was the swallowing therapist who gave the greatest insights.  Hospitals are full of resident doctors, which mean trainees under the watchful eye of an exhausted seasoned Dr.  Many residents are not experienced enough to understand complex cases.  But the therapists have been in the system long enough to know what is what.  Mom has promised to try to quit smoking. With all of her depression and missing Dad I think she really believed she wanted to die up until it somewhat hit her in the face.  She is not ready to go yet and wants to hang on somewhat - from what I can tell.  Sometimes it takes something drastic to make you realize what you truly want. It is my hope that the addition of a physiotherapist to her team will provide a more holistic approach to her care.  I do not want them to simply treat the symptoms and send her home.  Instead, I want some exercises for her to do at home coupled with some help for her.  When my hubby eventually gets his immigration papes and moves here, she will need someone to do some of the things I did for her.

For those of you who have never gone through this with an aging parent….PRINT THIS PAGE!!  This is all uncharted territory with no guidelines until you go through it or know someone who has gone through it.  AND, sadly, it is inevitable.  No two cases are the same, but at least if you have some awareness of what is out there, you can ask. It seems few offer up  this advice unless you know enough to ask.

OK, I am off my rant.  Yes, I still succumb to the call of the chocolate, but my goal is to really aim for clean eating in 2008.

Now, I am off to veg on the couch and watch some CSI.  Nothing like a great gorey murder before bed!!!

Cheers

Shayna