Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma'am

Boom!  Another .8 lbs!  I am kicking BUTT at this whole weight loss thing!  I'll be honest, the wedding motivation is really helping.  It makes it really easy to turn down fried foods/ drinks/ chips, etc.  That and I spend all my free time making paper flowers for our ceremony arch.  It's hard to eat anything while you're folding/ cutting/ shaping flowers.  It's taking longer than expected.  That's another story for another day though.

I love Jazzercise!  I bought a Groupon (as much as I hate to support that site, they DO have some good deals occasionally...) for 30 classes, and I've been using the heck out of them.  I go about twice a week, and usually burn between 400-550 calories in an hour.  Every class varies a little, so it's not the same, stagnant workout every time.  I've also been much more vigilant about tracking every bite that goes in my mouth.  I'm really determined not to backslide after the wedding- I'm giving myself one week (honeymoon!) to be bad (I'll try to use moderation) and then it's back to tracking, all the time.

Anyways, it's been a good week.  Even after the weekend- where I did have a few beers on the 4th, had steak and crab legs on Saturday, I still managed to lose weight, and I'm very proud of it.

This week: -.8 lbs
Total this year: -12.8 lbs

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you have someone you love as much as Buster loves Arnie.  Or as much as I love Tallboy.  Happy Valentine's Day!  FYI, speaking of LOVE, Buster is feeling much better. He's back to the snack begging snuggle monster we all know and love.

It's not only Valentine's Day, it's weigh-in day!  I was a little aprehensive, since we went to Ohio University over the weekend and I had beer, pizza and french fries for dinner on Saturday night.  (In that order.)  We came back, and I literally weighed 5.5 lbs MORE on Monday morning than I did on Saturday morning.  Impressive, no?  I knew it was mostly water weight (plus the entire Chipotle burrito I consumed on Sunday!) due to a lot of salty food and very little water, but it was shocking.  Anyways, that came off within two days, and then getting right back to eating well on Monday helped me shed a few additional lbs.  I lost what I gained last week, plus .6 more.

A few things- I have decided to drop Weight Watchers, once again.  It really hasn't been the oomph I've needed- I've found it uninspiring this time around, and haven't seen much success.  Since I started this Wellness Tracks Masters Class, I've seen more improvement in 1.5 months than I did in 6 months in Weight Watchers.  At WW, I know I could've found a more inspiring leader, but I am going to take the $40/month I was spending at WW and join the gym my class is through- that way I can continue to meet with my nutritionist and go over my food journals with him. 

Here's to progress- however you get there, if you're successful with it, continue.  If not, find something that works. 

This week: -2.0 lbs
Total 2013: -8.6 lbs

So This Is The New Year...

And I don't feel any different.

That being said, I have about a thousand new years resolutions this year.  I always have a lot, and this year is no different.  However.  I do realize that I have got to start approaching things much differently.  The biggest achievement that I can say I made in 2012 is how I've learned to love taking amazing care of my teeth.  My dental health?  Through the roof.  I hated flossing before, and so instead of making myself floss every night and hate it, I bought a Waterpik and love using it every night.  I had a problem, knew I needed a different way to solve it, and did.  Even the dentist was impressed.  Let me tell you, there is almost no better feeling than having your dentist tell you how amazing your teeth and gums look.

Last January, I talked about how I had learned a lot of good new habits in 2011, and 2012 would be the year of continuing good habits.  That happened, for about 7 months.  I could go on and on with excuses, but when all is said and done, very few of those 'habits' actually stuck with me.  Unfortunately, I gained back any of the weight I lost, and am back at square one.  I'm not giving up- I just need to find a better way to go about this.  I know it's still about eating healthy and exercising, so I need to make those habits in the same way that brushing my teeth and putting face lotion on- I need to make them second nature.  I need eating healthy to be a habit in a way that if I choose the wrong thing, I'll immediately feel the need to correct.  Like when you skip brushing your teeth, you feel gross.  I need to feel that way about healthy food. 

TallBoy and I made a long list of New Year's resolutions and I'm hanging it on the cabinet.  I'm scraping my current weight loss log and starting over- making small, incremental goals.  My first goal of the year?  To lose 5 lbs.  Not a lot, but it's a start in the right direction.  2013 should be an amazing year, and I want my weight loss to be a part of that.  Here's to making small changes that can really add up.

Happy New Year!

Turkey Day Approacheth...

What happens AFTER the meal

That's a word, right?  Approacheth?  According to spell check it is not, but I'm using it anyways.  Deal with it.  So, Thanksgiving somehow is already here- it seems like July was yesterday, but maybe the power outage we had is just messing with my head.  Whatever.  I've been eating well/doing well lately, so I am planning to make this delicious holiday about more than just food- because I will have SO much family around, so hopefully I can have ONE delicious, crazy big meal, nap it off, and then go back to normal, healthy eating.

As for what I'm bringing- I'm making this Roasted Butternut Baked Penne mac and cheese- it sounds SO SO good.  I'll make a small trial batch tonight just to make sure it doesn't taste weird, but with the ingredient list I think that might be impossible.  I also had about 5 butternut squashes laying around (a coworker grows them) so I spent a few hours roasting and pureeing squash. 

I've made it my mission to make mac and cheese a staple at holiday meals- I don't really understand why it wasn't before- it has all the warmth and comfort a holiday meal needs.  I'm hoping that sneaking in a heaping portion of veggies (disguised as creamy and rich!) will go over well- but I think the butternut will be a great addition.  Don't worry, I'll let you know.

Weigh in this week went.. ok.. I technically lost weight, but not much.  Only .2 lbs.  I know it's better than gaining, I just thought that my week had gone better, so it was a little disappointing.  I'm still glad I went and weighed in though.  I'm thinking of switching what night I go to meetings- my leader isn't really inspiring me much- and the lady I used to like a lot unfortunately isn't a leader anymore.  There are even two new locations near me- I haven't tried either, so maybe I'll shop around a little bit and see if I can find a leader who puts a little more spark into the meetings.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving- this is by far my favorite holiday- you get to see and spend time with your friends and family, and eat REALLY GOOD FOOD.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Last week: -.2 lbs
Total: -5.4 lbs

Coming up Roses

Maggye and I- Halloween 2003

I had a yearly doc checkup this morning.  Everything is fine with me, don't worry- but I realized that despite recent events, I've had an amazing year since the last time I saw my doctor.  I may not be where I want weight-wise yet, but I have so many things to be thankful for.  On top of all that- a good friend of mine who I've only gotten to see a few times since college is coming to visit this weekend!  I'm so excited I get to show her and her husband around my beloved Cleveland.  We have a trip to the West Side Market planned, tours around Tremont and Ohio City, a visit to my parents house for a bonfire, and a tour of TallBoy's brewery.  Buster will get to play with their dog, Walter- who is roughly horse sized.  Buster loves horse-sized dogs.  That and probably a lot of crying from laughing so hard.  That happens when we get together.  We'll probably talk about our Japanimation Halloween costumes from 2003.  We tend to be ridiculous together.

For weigh in- I had a really good week.  I dropped a little more weight, and have been motivated to get to the gym.  I plan on buying a heart rate monitor soon, so I can more accurately gauge my calorie burn from workouts.  All in all- things are getting better.  I hope everyone has an amazing Memorial Day weekend!

This week: -1.2 lbs
This year: -5.8 lbs
Total: -15.4 lbs

Checking In On New Year's Resolutions

My tubby puppy

The first blog post I did this year was about my goals for the year.  Then the other day I realized I should probably check on those more than just once a year.  So I figured we're about a quarter of the way through, let's have a progress report.  Here are my goals and how I'm doing so far:

• Keep tracking food, as much as possible.
• Check!  I've been relentlessly tracking my food on LoseIt.  It's probably the most useful weight loss tool I've used, and that includes Weight Watchers.  Not only that, but I've been really mindful about what kind of carbohydrates I'm eating and using the app to keep my proteins/carbs/fats in check.
• Keep going to the gym- learn more about strength training.
• Check!  I've gotten into some classes that I really enjoy- and my Wellness Tracks program has taught me how to use weights.  It's a winning combination.  Next up would be to try some power/weight classes.
• Keep working on the blog.
• Um, check?  Actually I haven't been doing as many posts as I'd like, but I'm working on it!
• Lose another 10 lbs and keep it off! 
• On my way!
• Start and keep track of a budget- put money in SAVINGS!
• Check and check!  This is something I'm REALLY proud of this year.  I'm actively saving and really mindful when I'm shopping.
• Cut down on drinking.
• Check and check.  My tolerance is about non existent now... but it's nice because my willpower is so much better.  I can enjoy one glass of wine instead of polishing off half the bottle.
• Floss everyday!
• Um... not really.  I know, gross.  But I did get an electric toothbrush and I know my dental health has improved.  But this is something I really need to work on.
• Keep the house neater.
• Again- BOOM! CHECK!  Spring cleaning has commenced.  The house is looking good, and staying neat.  It took a few months to get this down, but so far, so good.
• Give Buster less table scraps
• Um.......................  He's looking a little fat.  I keep telling everyone it's just his 'winter coat' but he's got a bit of a tummy.  We have started only letting him lick one plate after dinner instead of both, and I've been walking him around the block now that the weather is nice.  This is another one I have to work on a little more.

Color Me Surprised

Yup, the hammock's up.

Well well well.  SOMEONE'S pretty proud of herself this morning.  Someone's so pleased with her progress that she tried on bathing suits yesterday morning.  Does she have a vacation planned for the near future?  No.  Does she have access to a swimming pool?  Absolutely not.  Is she even at her goal weight?  Nope!  Just a few good things coming together at once. 

1. This was a week that involved a holiday- and I actually LOST.  That's the first time that has happened... ever.
2. It has been above 70º every day so far this week.  What?  Cleveland in March?  Seriously- what's happening?

Granted, that holiday was St. Patrick's Day- not one that involves a lot of eating surrounding that day (i.e. Thanksgiving/Christmas)- but still.  Any big eating/drinking day tends to really throw off any good I've done that week.  Maybe I would've lost more this week had I not attended the St. Paddie's Day festivities downtown, but I had to do it at least once.  That being said... we probably won't do it again.  It was pretty overwhelming. 

My COSE Wellness Tracks program is coming to a close next week- that means I'll be going in for a reassessment to see how I've done so far this year.  I know I'll be down a couple of pounds, but more than anything I'm looking forward to seeing how my body has changed- if I've lost inches and gained muscle and endurance.  Monday is my reassessment, so I'm going to take it real easy this weekend and focus on working out and eating right so I'm not up on Monday. (that's a usual thing for me)  I'll also be checking back on on my New Year's Resolutions next week, I think I'm on track!

This week: -.6 lbs
This year: -4.8 lbs
Total: -14.4 lbs

Happy PI Day!!!

Last year, I linked a recipe for an excellent Zucchini Feta Pie in honor of this lovely day.  Today?  Sadly, I didn't make any pie this year.  I had a Shamrock Shake on Monday, and upon the discovery that it was 540 calories (for a small!!!), I decided pie should probably be out of the picture today.  (Actually, I'm saving up my calories for green beer on Saturday.  St. Pats is on a SATURDAY this year, which means it'll be extra fun and extra... um.... amateur hour.  Let's just put it that way.)

Now, in honor of PI day, I won't disappoint- here's a link to another delicious looking savory pie from Katie- I haven't made it yet, but it looks amazing.  Tomato Pie?  YES PLEASE.  I can practically smell it through my computer screen.

What kind of pie are you eating today?

Happy New Year!!!!

NYE Headgear!

We had to rip his hat so it'd fit on his huge melon.

...And just like that, it's 2012.  That's insane.  2012 means that I've been out of high school for TEN years.  I actually had a dream last night that I was at my ten year high school reunion, and I was wearing pajamas for some reason.  Maybe I'll actually do that, who knows.  2012 (I keep typing 2010, btw) is officially going to be the year of continuing good habits.  I really learned a lot in 2011, and plan on building more on that foundation.  For the majority of last year, I tracked my food and exercise either on Weight Watchers or LoseIt.  I joined a gym and have actually been going on a regular basis.  I have eaten less meat and focused on eating whole foods.  My yearly weigh in isn't until next Thursday, but it seems like I'll have lost around 10 lbs since last January.  I have found that losing weight more slowly has really helped nail in good habits- even when I fall off the wagon, it's much easier to get back down to the weight I was at, and the gains aren't as drastic.

I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve- TallBoy and I stayed in, drank champagne, ate scallops, watched Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, cuddled with Buster and generally had a wonderful time.  It was probably my favorite New Year's ever- just relaxing and calm.  Oh, and we lit sparklers on the driveway.  We also worked on our resolution lists- mine looks like this:

• Keep tracking food, as much as possible.
• Keep going to the gym- learn more about strength training.
• Keep working on the blog.
• Lose another 10 lbs and keep it off!
• Start and keep track of a budget- put money in SAVINGS!
• Cut down on drinking.
• Floss everyday!
• Keep the house neater.
• Give Buster less table scraps

I know this list is long, but I think it's doable.  I've set up my monthly budget already, and it seems like a natural extension of food logging- just another place to put numbers.  It makes a lot of sense to me, and I'm excited to not mindlessly spend money.  I can't even tell you how many times I hit up Marshall's or TJ Maxx last year because I was bored- it was like my bored eating became bored shopping.  I'm hoping to channel that 'bored' energy into something better this year- like working out or reading or cleaning.

Here's to a productive 2012- what are your resolutions?

Now For A Little Backtracking...

Oof- I knew the weigh in after Christmas wouldn't be great.  And it wasn't.  I wasn't as good as I was on Thanksgiving- didn't track my food for five days, and kind of just ate... everything.  But that's okay- it was a wonderful holiday.  This is what it looked like: 






Friday- Pre-Christmas Papa John's.  (totally unnessecary, a great example of stress eating)
Saturday- Christmas Eve dinner, followed by a family party. 
Sunday- Christmas breakfast!  Christmas lunch!  Christmas snack for dinner.  My belly was so full.  Christmas cocktails.
Monday- Kraft Mac and Cheese lunch, Christmas Dinner, part three.  (or so)
Tuesday- Tallboy's Birthday Breakfast, Birthday Lunch, Birthday Dinner

Sometimes, the schedule is full of family eating, and your only choices are sauerkraut and bacon wrapped blood sausage.  So, I ate it and loved it.  I'm headed back to the gym tonight for the first time in over a week.  I'm so tired and worn out, but it was so nice to see SO much family. 

Our plans for New Year's Eve?  Stay in.  Cook our favorite dinner and drink some champagne.  I'm really looking forward to taking it easy. 

This week: +1.6 lbs
Total: -9.8 lbs

I still have two weeks before my final weigh in for the year- hopefully I can nudge the scale back down a bit. 

A Good Start To The End Of The Year

She's a beaut, ain't she?

A few weeks back (pre-Thanksgiving) I made a list of guidelines to help get me through the holiday season.  Now- I haven't followed them to a T- but I have kept the list in mind the past few weeks, and it's really helped.  I've gotten in some extra workouts- trying out new classes and new exercises to keep myself entertained; stuck to eating homemade and healthy whenever possible; and continuing to keep myself hydrated.  It's been a rollercoaster on the scale, but I've managed to get back down to my pre-Thanksgiving weight almost every week.  Now, keep in mind, this is pre-Christmas now- deep territory.  Christmas eating won't just be one night or day- it'll be a whirlwind of four (yes, FOUR!) large Christmas dinners followed directly by TallBoy's birthday.

Before Thanksgiving, I was really nervous.  I guess this is the first year I've made a consious effort to try and maintain my weight through the holidays, instead of just throwing caution to the wind and passing out in the stuffing like usual.  It felt weird being nervous about eating before Thanksgiving- it was the wrong thing to be feeling before such a great day.  For Christmas, I feel like I can go in and make it about family and friends, and not just about the food.  I did it at Thanksgiving, and I can do it again.  I know this is a longer string of meals, but I have faith in myself for the next week. 

I'm going to make my official year-end weigh in day on January 12, 2012.  That'll be almost exactly a year from the day I started this blog with my first weigh-in.  Hopefully by then I'll have managed to be back to my pre-Christmas weight!

This week: -2.0 lbs
Total: -11.4 lbs

I'll be back after Christmas- most likely for next week's weigh in! 

Merry Christmas!!!!

2011- Looking Back

Get it?  LOOKING back?  Waka waka!

We're closing in on the end of 2011, I was thinking this morning about all the things I've learned this year about myself and my health.  I may not have reached my goal weight by the end of this calander year, but I do feel as though I've changed as a person in a really good way.  I wanted to start wrapping up the year with round up of the things I've gained this year- thankfully it's not weight!

1. You can start over any time you want.  The phrase "I'm starting over on Monday" will never cross these lips again.  Seriously.  Why wait until Monday?  Or tomorrow?  If you ate poorly at lunch, just eat well for dinner.  It's seriously as simple as that.  If ALL that's available for dinner is pizza, just have a slice.  It won't kill you.  Just make a serious effort to eat well at your next meal-  it will get you back on track.

2. Junk food REALLY makes you feel like crap.  If you want a reminder of this, spend a weekend eating pizza, drinking beer, and eating fast food.  I recently spent a Saturday with college friends, eating college foods.  It was super fun, but when Sunday morning arrived with a headache, I said, screw it.  I'll eat bad again today.  Guess what- Sunday night?  The WORST.  I really haven't felt that sick from food in a LONG time.  It was the reminder I needed that eating healthy does make me feel better, all the time. 

3. It's never all or nothing.  Practice moderation.  Like I said before- if you eat poorly or skip a workout, it's not the end of the world.  You don't have to throw all your effort out the window just because you ate worse than usual.  Take it in stride, and move on.  Don't give yourself an ultimatum- you won't stick to it.

4. Exercise can be enjoyable.  This was hard for me to learn, because I thought that if I wanted to get fit, it meant being miserable at the gym, or running outside, which I hate even more.  I spent a good three months trying to get into running, hating every minute of it.  So I started taking classes at the gym and realized I could get cardio and strength training in another way.  I've always loved dance, and taking aerobic dance and zumba classes has been awesome.  I LOVE going to work out, and while I'm sweaty and look disgusting, I feel awesome and can't wait to go back for more.  If you don't enjoy exercising, you won't do it.  Period.  How long can you keep doing something you don't enjoy?  So find something you actually like, and you'll go.

5. Losing weight will never be (and should never be) fast and easy.  Let's face it.  I would've loved to be twenty pounds thinner overnight.  Hell, I would've loved to be twenty pounds thinner this year.  That being said, I have learned so much about nutrition and exercise and cooking that would not have stuck if I had gone down some easy route.   If you woke up twenty pounds thinner tomorrow, how would you have any idea to keep it off?


6. Get to know (and love) your own body.  I will never look like a twig, I will never be a supermodel.  But I know I can look and feel better in my own skin, with my own body type.  You have to love and appreciate your shape, and work on making it the best you can.  Don't base your goals off of a J. Crew model, base them off of a healthy version of you.  I can't rock skinny jeans, but I also have leg muscles that can kick your ass.

7. Find a way to make yourself accountable.  It's hard to admit, but staying healthy really is all about will power.  For me, tracking my food intake and blogging about my struggles and triumphs has really helped me to stay on the right path.  Having support from friends and family is really important, but if you don't believe in yourself that you can get there, it won't happen.  It comes down to you, so do it for the right reasons.  Stay healthy, stay happy, and stay on track.

Wading Into the Holidays

My favorite moment from Thanksgiving

I was nervous for Thanksgiving this year.  I think I freaked myself out that I wouldn't have the willpower to NOT eat a thousand plates of food, and then I freaked myself out that freaking out wouldn't let me enjoy Thanksgiving.  Turns out, neither were totally true.  I enjoyed Thanksgiving, took it easy, and ate well at the meal.  The problem for me was the following few days.  Regardless, I managed to get back on track this week.  Last week I was really proud to have lost 1.2 lbs on my weigh in day! (Thanksgiving morning!)  I knew this week would be recovery from the holiday, and I was okay with that.  I was expecting a gain this week, and that's what I got (self-fulfilling prophecy, anyone?)  However, it's a manageable gain that I can get past.

This week: I will NOT beat myself up over a gain, instead, I will let it be that carrot in front of my nose at the gym.  Speaking of carrots, I will eat more of them.  I will go out of town for TallBoy's college makeshift reunion and enjoy myself, but immediately get back on track the moment I sober up.

This week: +.4 lbs
Total: -10.8 lbs

*also!? Today is DECEMBER 1st?  I think I've been a day off for at least a week.  I totally thought it was November 30th.  Whoops?*

Then This Happened

Remember when I said I was busy like... until next year?  I wasn't joking.  So on Sunday, we chopped down a tree (don't worry, we paid for it), and then yesterday, we decorated it.  After a workout at the gym, and after some awesome soup.  So, yeah.  Even with the Elf Soundtrack on and Christmas decorations up... it's still November.  And there's no snow on the ground, so no, it doesn't feel like Christmas.  But I'm hoping it will soon, because that tree is sticking around.  Maybe I'll cover it with a sheet until December 15th, when sane people should be putting their trees up.

Post Thanksgiving Results

Uh, yeah, these totally happened.

Whew!  What a great couple of days.  I know you're dying to know- did I stick to my plan? Yes- mostly.  If you want to recheck my goals- check 'em out here.  Yes, that's through the end of the year, but it's also to help me get through each individual holiday.  So, how did I do?  Well.  Mostly.  I worked out Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday AND Friday.  Not only did I bring gym clothes to my sisters' house to workout the day after Thanksgiving, but I actually used them. I feel like I deserve some sort of award.  However, I did fall a little flat on all of the goals.  Let's just take a walk through the long weekend:

Wednesday night: Went to my fitness assessment for my COSE Wellness Tracks program I'm doing in January.  It got me PSYCHED up.  I met TallBoy at the gym, and I wasn't even planning on working out Wednesday night!  Fitness assessment the night before Thanksgiving?  Great idea- it really put things in perspective and made it easy to stay on track the night before a holiday.

Thursday:  Sensible breakfast.  Weekly weigh in: down 1.2 lbs!  Total of  11.2! Got there, sliced up my delicious breads that I brought... sampled some.  Tracked ALL my food, stuck to ONE plate, and filled it half with salad.  I'm really glad I was in charge of bringing that.  Only had half a piece of pie and a few glasses of wine.  Even for dinner later that night, was pretty good about the small portions.

Friday: Worked out!  Ate salad with turkey for lunch!  Went on a big family walk to get... ice cream... then had pizza for dinner.  It's hard away from home.

Saturday:  Oh man.  Remember when I said to make holidays about ONE day?  This is where things really went downhill.  Tallboy and I drove back from Columbus to work the Cleveland Wine and Ale Festival- was fun, but ate and drank my way through way too much... everything. 

Sunday:  Scared myself a little when I weighed in, but stayed on track for the day.  This is what it's about- realizing you may have messed up a bit, but getting back on the wagon as soon as possible.

I have another big weekend ahead of me, thankfully the increased food/booze intake will just be one day this weekend.  I'm going to stay on track every day until then and get some more gym time in.  I'll probably still be up on Thursday, but I'd like the damage to be as minimal as possible. 

How was your extended weekend?  Were you able to do some damage control, or was it your 'cheat' day?  Did it turn into a 'cheat' four days?  If so, you can get back on track, don't throw the rest of the year away!