Love this

Life

I've been debating over what to write about this week.  I have been dealing with some pretty sad stuff lately and that's been a bummer.   I've taken great care not to self-medicate with food.  I have in the past considered myself somewhat of an emotional eater.  And I don't mean just sad emotions. People often gather with friends, celebrate weddings/showers/birthdays - all happy events - with food. I think a lot of times, people equate emotional eating with being sad.  I was sad last week.  And I had the opposite problem.  I didn't want to eat.  Hubby had to make me eat.  I had to remind myself to eat.   That's never really happened to me before.  I think part of me was afraid that once I started, I wouldn't stop.  I'm mostly back to my "normal" self now and am happy that I didn't feed my face to try to feel better.  Because I know in my head that doesn't work.  You just end up feeling more miserable.

On a happier note (yes, get on with it already, Sheri), I celebrated a scale victory (YAY ME) and a non-scale victory (YAY ME) when I went down another size in jeans and dress!  That certainly was a pick-me-up feeling and I believe now that there is truth in "retail therapy".  I got some of the spring back in my step when I left my favorite store yesterday with a bag full of goodies.  

Incidentally, my whole family celebrated scale victories this week.  I couldn't be prouder.  It doesn't take a village just to raise a child, it takes a village to lose the weight of a small child.  Ha!  It's seriously hard to lose weight.  And if you don't have the support around you, it's even harder.  I have a TON of support at home.  I have my parents and my sister supporting from a-far.  I have my BFF doing this along side me.   I also have my co-workers support.  All of these people in my life are my personal cheerleaders.  Without them, I just don't think I would be this successful.  So, if you are reading this and you know who you are - thank you.

Okay So I Ate a Donut

It's not the end of the world, right?  I mean, the sky didn't fall down, I didn't burst into flames.  I lived to tell about it.  Was is tasty?  Sure. But was it worth it (and by "it" do I mean points)?  No.  It wasn't.  About half a second after I swallowed, I was still hungry.  You would think that an 8 point - yes, I said 8 points - donut would fill one up.  It did not. All it really did was make me feel icky and wishing for a re-do.  And still really hungry.

Here's the thing.  At least for me.  If I think about something and want it really bad, the only way it's going to go away is to have it. Hence the donut.  I really wanted it, I had to have it, I was going to die if I didn't eat it.  And now, it's done.  Over.  Let's move on. 

It's okay to slip up every once in a while.  As long as you picked yourself up, dust yourself off and start over.  You can't just have the attitude of "oh, well, I ate a donut so I might as well eat another" or worse yet - give up and never get back on track.  

I didn't weigh in this week.  GASP!  It's the first weigh in I have missed since I started my journey.  I had a lot of anxiety over it.  I have convinced myself that it's going to be okay.  I will be going this Saturday, have no fear.  And all will be right in the world.  At least it will be in MY world!!

Why, Thank You

One thing that I think most people have a problem with is accepting compliments.  Maybe it's because it embarrasses them or they don't think they are deserving of what they are being complimented on. 

For me, accepting compliments has been just plain hard.  I have had to learn to simply say "thank you".  When I hear, "wow, you look great", I just need to accept it instead of saying "oh thanks but I still need to lose 20 pounds" or "oh gee, really?  I'm at a plateau and can't seem to lose more".  When someone says they love the color of my hair I should not say "you too can have this color...for a price". I tend to say that A LOT.

For a long time, my hair was really my best feature. We joke that it's why my husband married me.  But, now that my figure has changed, other "parts" of me have become a better feature.  Take my butt.  When I was a teenager, my behind was my best feature.  Truly.  I knew this because boys told me all the time.  Of course back then I weighed like 95 pounds. But now, my hubby talks about my butt almost more than politics.  Well, not really but he does mention it often.  All the time on the elliptical is paying off.  

The next time someone compliments me, I am going to make a point to say "why thank you, I feel great".  Why be embarrassed or not feel deserving of their praise?  I worked (and still am working) hard to look better and feel better.  I should graciously accept it and keep it with me as a reminder. 

I Need a Plan!!

"Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy or stupid.  Those things are what happen when you don't have a plan." 

- Larry Winget

In order for you to be successful you have to have a plan. I already plan our menus for the whole week, right down to what I am going eat at every meal, every day.  I not only do that for my weight loss but also for my sanity. 

I can't really use "I've been busy" as an excuse for every day that I didn't get all 10,000 steps or that I only worked out 2 days last week. I have no real excuse.  I am ashamed to say that I kind of had the "I'm doing okay so I can slack off a little" attitude.  And what happens on the scale?? Nothing.  Not up, not down. 

When I look over my activity for the last month, I have been slacking.  And because I have been slacking, my weight loss has slowed.  Slacker.

Time to regroup. I need a new plan. Just how I am going to beat the laziness? Here is what I came up with - each day, I will take a few minutes away from my desk to take a quick walk (inside or outside) at least once;  I will make every effort to get on the elliptical; I WILL get all 10,000 steps!  

Any bets to see if my plan works??  I'll take that bet!

How do you like me now?

Often I find myself singing one of my favorite Toby Keith songs to myself, "How do you like me now?"  I like me just fine - now. I mean I liked myself before...mostly. But I was unhappy with how I looked and how I felt. I knew I was unhealthy and overweight. I knew I needed to do something about it but was so deep in depression that I didn't know where to start. It took hearing that I was pre-diabetic to get my rear in gear.  I guess you could say that was scared straight!! 

Weight Watchers Weekly's topic last week was "What's your why?".  My health started out to be my "why".  But now!  Now, I my "why" is how I feel and look.  My why is how much happier I am and how happy my hubby is.  My why is be able to walk anywhere, anytime when I really thought that I was heading towards a crippling life.  And, if I am going to be really honest, my why is that I am addicted to shopping (The Loft, anyone?) because dammit, I look good!

My friends and family are simply The Best.  SO encouraging, so complimentary and understanding.  I need my weekly meetings and my BFF to help me along.  I could never do this without them.  You know the saying "it takes a village to raise a child"?  Well, I think it takes a village to succeed in weight loss.  

I celebrated a scale victory.  Even after being in San Francisco and not attending 2 meetings, I was down 1.8.   I have to admit, I was a bit nervous that I would be up.  Being back on track and a normal schedule feels good.  

I have some more exciting social events coming up.  A big book club meeting at my favorite authors home, a country show, a family wedding and another trip. All of which will have food and alcohol. All challenging but I am confident that I got this.  

So...How do you like me now?  

When in Rome...

...do as the Romans do. Or in my case, when in California do as Californians do. Eat. Drink. Be Merry. I did it all and enjoyed every hateful point I consumed.  Tracking was difficult. I haven't had a banana since we left. As a matter of fact, I can't recall much fruit OR veggies. I have a feeling that I am going to be spending this week trying to undo what I did these last 4 days.

I will say, for the record that I got plenty of exercise in all the walking we did. If you have ever been to San Francisco you know what it's made up of - hills. Lots and lots of hills. Very steep hills. If you are lucky enough to find a space to park your car, you take that space and walk to wherever you need to go. Could be a block. Could be several. Could be a mile. I should have buns of steel and killer calves after this!  

It was a great trip. I regret none of it. Spending this time with the girls before they graduate and go on to their big girl lives was my goal and my pleasure. What wonderful human beings they are. 

A year ago I never could've done this trip. I never could have walked all over the city. I am thankful that because I have made a choice to better myself and my health, I was able to do the things we did and have this time with them. Thank goodness for WW and for my determination towards a better life.