Because I need something else to do...

(sense the sarcasm?)

But this looks like fun!  So I'm diving in.



*blows dust of neglect off the camera*

Spring into Action

Okay, I did go to my meeting today.  I didn’t want to go.  I hated going.  I hated weighing in even more.  I knew I hadn’t followed plan and even worse I overindulged last night.  But I took my medicine and weighed

in anyway. 

And gained 1.6. 

And so here we go...

again

Today I opened up my trusty weight watchers web page and found the following challenging words:

With just a few short weeks until Memorial Day the season of reawakening is upon us. As we spring back to life we realize that the season of short sleeves and bathing suits fast approaches. This year we challenge you to take a step outside of your comfort zone, clean out the cobwebs and set some serious goals

Well, Weight Watchers, bring it on. 

Week One:  NO EXCUSES

• Eat Smarter - by planning a week's worth of meals and snacks.  I have been slacking in this area, so I will get this done for the rest of this week, and go back to planning a whole week on Sundays.  Today I didn't even accept excuses from myself when my lunch hour was completely hicked and I had to eat on the run.  (I chose a half a smoked turkey sandwich from the deli with a side of veggies and hummus.  Yum!)
• Move More - The challenge ants me to get ready for the Walk-It Challenge and complete a 5k.  I don't know if my knee can handle it this year.  I have already set my own fitness goals, so I know I have a plan!
• Build Helpful Habits - building awareness?  Sounds boring.  They want me to turn off the TV and computer (even my new iPad?!) and focus on my feelings of fullness and satisfaction.  Tell ya what, I'll compromise - I'll sit down to eat every snack and meal, but I'm bringing a magazine to lunch with me. 
• Find Support - okay, if giving up TV during dinner was hard, reacing out for help is near impossible.  I tend to be fairly private about my weight loss.  The irony is not lost on me.  This blog is about my weight loss.  But you see I have the bliss of semi-anonymity here.  I don't have to see you guys if I had a bad week and gained back a couple of pounds.  You're not watching me sneak into that bag of chips or pour a second glass of wine.  So I am going to seek support two ways:
• Online:  between my readers here and the friends I’ve found on the Weight Watchers website, I know I have people I can go to for advice and motivation.  I want to blog about this journey in the good times and bad.  Feel free to call me out on it, or ask me what my status is, or check in any old way if I seem to be avoiding this place. I need people who can provide the virtual kick in the butt.  Step up and kick harder people! 
• Offline:  And I will reach out to a couple of friends I’ve identified and of course Wrangler, the closest person in my life, to help me and keep me accountable when I'm offline.  I need to know I can call someone to “talk me off the ledge” when I’m grocery shopping and make the mistake of wandering the chip aisle and find myself stopped in front of those purely evil Tomato Basil Chips! 

What can you do this week to excuse proof your weight loss?

Back at it...

...the gym that is. So that qualifies for my "tried it" of the week, right?

Last night I went back to my favorite class at the gym:  Body Attack.  I can only do the extremely low option, i.e. both my feet never leave the ground at the same time. 

On one hand, the low option is a lot easier.  It's a great way to ease back into things.

On the other hand, I wanted to work harder!  It sucks being limited. 

I have decided that I will continue to be kind to my joints though, and here's how:

1. I will only go to Body Attack twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays)
2. I will supplement that cardio with the elliptical, bike, or a low impact workout at home. 
3. I will complete 2 sessions a week of weight training, either on my own or in Body Pump.
4. I will not return to high impact until I have lost 10% of my current weight.

Them's my goals and I'm stickin' to 'em!

My weekend = Sabotage

Who hasn't had that kind of weekend?  A hectic schedule, a bump in the road and some added stress and suddenly your healthy eating plan is right out the window.  (Along with all of my other plans, I might say!)  So this Monday morning I needed a little advice, and a little motivation. 

The advice I found at prevention.com with a 3 Day Diet Recovery Plan.  The great part is, I'm already using many of the ideas.  Plus, since the plan doesn't include any crazy fasting or food preparation I know it will be easy to stick to. 

I also found a great quote this morning by Ralph Marston:
Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality.

It's already posted on my computer!  Now to plan this week's menu...  Hopefully I will get it posted later today.

What a Week, What a Weigh-In!

This week I:

Gave up alcohol for Lent. 

Tracked everything I ate.

Made healthy choices when dining out

(with family and at a church dinner)

Treated myself to TWO cupcakes.

Still tracked everything I ate.

Played with and walked my new puppy (Cosmo)

And lost over 5 pounds! 

First of all, let me tell you that having no wine or beer probably had a lot to do with that.  Second, let me just say I was a bit bloated last week at weight in, if you know what I mean.  Nonetheless, I feel like the reset button has been hit and I'm heading in the right direction again. 

Now as for this week's meeting topic...

The one that encourages us to allow ourselves a splurge now and then,

I'll just say DONE!

Can you say

Amish Friendship Bread?

The Ides of March

1.  Meaning - the middle of March.

2.  Closely associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar.

3.  Immortalized by William Shakespeare when he penned "Beware the ides of March" in his play named for the slain leader. 

4.  Immortalized for me in two things:  basketball and "young love".  (No, not basketball as in that NCAA tournament that's got everyone filling out brackets instead of working today in my office.  Including me.)

Every year, when the 15th of March rolls around, I am taken back to Veteran's Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa, where my high school was playing in the boys state basketball tournament.  I think that was the day that my love for watching Red Oak basketball was born.  It compelled me to first be a cheerleader in junior high and then later for our varsity boys.  Eventually I found more joy in cheering from the crowd.  During my senior year in high school, I think I made it to nearly every game, always sitting with my friends in the front row.  And always following traditions that most certainly determined the outcome of the game.  I've often tried to get that same passion for basketball while watching another team, or even during March Madness, but the same magic is just not there.  And while I could go on for an entire post about how basketball took over my high school experience, that's just not what this day is about. 

You see, even though I remember being at the state basketball tournament this day, I don't remember much about the game.  I had a good reason, though. 

It was the day I got my first boyfriend.

If you think about the Subway commercial that features a fully grown adult woman talking in a very childish voice to a fully grown adult man who sounds equally juvenile you'll have the basic idea of how the conversation went. 

Of course I was sure that day I had found the love that would take me from "will you be my boyfriend" to happily ever after.  Instead I got a few of months of sitting together on the bus and talking on the phone at night until mom picked up to tell me to go to bed (and then talking ten more minutes before she told me again). 

Eventually this boy and I grew up and realized we were better friends than anything else.  Now he's grown and married with a family and I realize what a special person he was then and is now.  I was lucky to be sitting next to him at that tournament 21 years ago.  So maybe it's not so strange that I think of him every March 15th.  Maybe some people just touch us in a way that we never forget. 

By the way, my team lost 77-42. 

My Menu 3/14 - 3/20

MONDAY

Grilled Brie & Apple Sandwiches w/ Potatoes & Peas

TUESDAY

Lamb & Feta Burgers w/ Tossed Salad

WEDNESDAY

Church Supper

THURSDAY

Corned Beef, Cabbage & Potatoes

FRIDAY

Stuffed Salmon Rolls, Rice & Steamed Veggies

SATURDAY

Out for Date Night

SUNDAY

Pork Loin, Skinny Mashed Potatoes & Veggies

This is what...

my new doggie looks like. 

We found this 4 month old Great Pyrenees pup at a shelter.

He came to live with us last week.

Now he needs a name and we can't settle on one.

The short list is:

Ardie

Cosmo

Dexter

Kracker

Raja

Who does he look like to you?

Cooking for One - Flat Bread Bakes

A few weeks ago, my friend Netters mentioned that she was having flat bread bakes with her family.  And then she mentioned it again about a couple of days later and included recipes.  So of course I had to try them.  Last night was the perfect opportunity for me because I was home alone and cooking for myself alone.  I went the easy route and bought premade flat bread, but it was still delicious!  My favorite way to top flat bread (homemade or otherwise) is to brush it with olive oil (garlic flavored is even better) then top with capocollo (or prosciutto if it's on sale) sauteed mushrooms, asparagus and feta cheese crumbles and a sprinkling of of ground mustard.  Delish!  By the way, it goes really great with a slightly chilled red wine like a Beaujolais.

Do you do flatbread bakes?  What are your favorite toppings?