Its not the jeans that make me look fat — its the FAT!!!

Ok in the grand scheme of weight loss and diets - this isn’t huge but for me I am THRILLED!!!!!  I haven’t weighed myself for quite a while — 41 days to be exact.  In that time I have tried a plan (see previous posts LOL), made a concerted effort to eat right before I went away and I went on a week’s cruise to Alaska.  And the end result of that 41 days is 4 count em FOUR pounds LOST!!!  I am one of the rare people that can lose weight on vacation.  Yes we were on an all you can eat cruise.  We had sittings for breakfast lunch and dinner and a buffet that ran all day long.  We had sit down breakfast twice, lunch once and dinner six times.  Funny in between I didn’t eat or snack.  I filled my plate at breakfast with fresh fruit and then made decent choices. At lunch I filled with salad - paid attention to the dressings and additions and again made good choices.  Dinner was mostly in the dining room and there we were treated to great portion control and good food.  I believe there are two reasons for my success.  First was that we went for walks after breakfast and lunch — two or three times around the deck.  Second was no snacking.  Only twice did I help myself to the low fat frozen ice cream in the buffet. 

No matter the reason I did the happy dance this morning.  We are heading to Whistler in two weeks time.  We were supposed to go in October but we had a change in plans.  I was looking forward to October because I had a goal in mind.  In Whistler they have a really wonderful zipline — enough to make you go Yee Haw!!! But not as scary as some I have seen.  Weight limit for the zipline is 275 pounds.  I really want to do this - won’t know until I actually get close but I didn’t want to weigh anything even close to the limit.  So when I weighed myself today I was expecting to see 260ish — imagine my delight when I saw 249!!!  I spent the rest of the day watching what I ate.  We fired up our EA Active (addition to our Wii Fit) and spent 2 hours working in the garden.  I will continue the path to good eating.  I am going to try something next week and see what happens.  My usual after work was come home, have a tea and some sort of snack.  Popcorn, rye crisp bread with cashew butter — about 200 to 250 calories.  Then I would have my salad and then dinner.  I think I am going to have my salad - no snack and then dinner later - just my 3 or 4 oz of protein and small serving of carb - we will see.

Just going on vacation and will have no access to a computer.  The fact we are on a cruise ship with lots of great food choices won’t be easy.  I plan to walk as much as my foot allows me and eat well.  I can’t stuff myself anymore so I have to be care - choose wisely.  Its not like at the Sunday brunch where you pay $25 and I just can’t seem to have a tiny bit and walk away.  I focus (yes part of my downfall) on the fact that I am throwing away money.  I don’t think I will feel that way on the cruise — I look at the food as a bonus for the price of the cruise.  For us to go to a really nice hotel and flights would be less than the cost — so the food is just extra bonus — extra bonus — extra bonus.  I am sure if I keep telling myself this all will be good. 

I will be back on June 7 and look forward to catching up.

I didn’t even make it to double digits.  I am still watching and making good choices but things keep getting in my way.  Had my usual breakfast then my husband went to the chiropractor and I decided to walk down to meet him rather than him come and get me after.  Its not a long walk but its a good walk — after his appointment we walked over to the bank so all in all got in over half an hour of walking.  Picked up my mom and she offered to take us for lunch.  Sighs — I really really hate to turn her down.  I picked what I thought was the best choice on the menu - I believe it was about 700 calories so not horrid just not perfect.

We bought a few groceries to get us through the week but didn’t want to leave too much in the fridge while we were away.  I wanted just a small container of yogurt for my smoothie last night (only had fruit and a smoothie for dinner).  I couldn’t get the yogurt I wanted in a small size so I bought what looked like a good one.  A few hours later I made my smoothie - was surprised at the consistency of the yogurt but carried on making a really fabulous smoothie.  Ok now is when I get hit with a lesson I learned a LONG time ago - read the nutrition label.  This darn tiny little container of yogurt was 200 calories!!!!  200 FRIKKEN CALORIES!!!!  I was in shock and as I said lesson learned.  At the end of the day it wasn’t all horrible and I ended up with calories near my goal of 1800.

Calories — 1945

Exercise — 30 minutes brisk walking.

Got up very early and had a bit of cereal - brunch wasn’t until after noon and if I didn’t have something before I would have been chewing on the leg of the omelette chef.  We arrived on time and waited for my in-laws to get there.  LOL they wouldn’t pay the $2 for parking so ended up trying to find free parking.  My husband was ready to meet them outside with a toonie in hand — but they didn’t want any part of that.

So the brunch was as always fabulous — my eating plan basically went out the window.  Although I had a nice big plate of fruit to end the meal.  We finished eating about 1 and then came home.  I was of course stuffed and not interested in eating anything whatsoever.  Really and truly the brunch kept me satisfied until well into the evening.  About 7:30 I really wasn’t hungry but I knew I could be just before bedtime so I cut up an apple and had a thing of mozarella cheese.  I did my best to calculate my calories and I really wish I had more energy it was a beautiful day and a walk in the evening would have been nice but I didn’t have the get up and go.  So by my calculations:

Calories — approximately 2700

Exercise - nada - -does opening our new EA Active and checking out the equipment count for anything?

I guess with all my new starts and Day 3’s all over my blog I will start to do year and season.  May 23 was pretty darn good if I say so myself.  Had my usual Fibre One breakfast (measured out my one cup) and then because the weather was perfect and my body was cooperating I was able to walk my darling husband to work.  It was a glorious walk.  We took off a bit late so we powered up there and about 2 minutes away was when my foot decided to give me trouble.  Made it to the hospital and sat for about 10 minutes before I headed back — YAY!!!

My girlfriend came over and we went up to visit with my new grandpuppy — she is glorious!!!  What a little bubble of fun and joy.  We think she could be about 60 to 70 pounds but because of the German Shepherd in her she could be long and lean — only time will tell.  My son sort of hinted about taking care of her when they go to Quebec — can’t say I can wrap my brain around puppy sitting — we will see how desperate they are.  I just hate the thought of leaving her alone for 7 hours while we are at work

Came home and did chores - made a lovely egg beater omlette and really watched my eating for the rest of the day.  Needed to - we are going out for Brunch on Sunday and I don’t want to pay $25 for some lettuce leaves.  Actually what we tend to do is eat well for brunch but that is the main meal of our day — if we have anything later its just some soup - which is fine by me.  I just need to avoid the sugars.  Most of what I am eating on the “new” plan is whole grains, very little sugar and flour — so pretty much what I should be eating.  I will fill up on fruit for brunch.

Calories for May23 — 1701 (missed it by that much!!)

Exercise — 40 minutes of good walking — YAY!!!

Another good day — -although I did break down and buy myself a tall skinny mocha from the campus Starbucks.  Day wouldn’t have been bad otherwise.  Still determined yet again although like my friend ellabella said I am sure I will be counting calories in my coffin — LOL as long as its a good long time from now. 

Even though I had a stressful morning I didn’t turn to food to calm me down — didn’t use any excuses just forged ahead — made a veggie pita for my lunch and enjoyed the day.  Can hardly wait to get moving again although we were able to pick up our EA Active another workout for our Wii.  I love our Wii Fit but it does get tiresome and this looks like a great addition.  Once we get back from our vacation I am going to program the 30 day challenge.

Calories - 2011 (darn mocha)

Exercise - 0 (darn 50 + body)

So wasn’t able to move much - no exercise to speak of but eating was really good — calories still a bit high  but much better than what I was probably injesting prior to recording them again.

Last weekend I came across an e-mail from Prevention for the Flat Belly Diet.  I have to admit a picture my husband took (accidently) showed my side view.  I wasn’t sure if the baby was due this coming week or next month but OMG!!!  Frikken scary shot - thank goodness for cropping.  At least I was able to save the picture of my son with his new puppy.

Anyway the Flat Belly Diet — is good in principal — horrible to actually follow for this girl at least.  Theory is to eat mostly whole grains, MUFA’s (really good fats), minimal red meat.  So generally good food but you eat it in four meals a day 400 calories each.  Just didn’t work for me — 400 calories was too much for breakfast and snack - -strange how the body gets used to certain levels of eating.  Of course the 400 wasn’t anywhere near enough for lunch and dinner.  I feel when I try a plan and if 3/4’s of the way through the first day I am ready to either chew off my leg or go buy a donut this was not a good eating plan.

I loved some of the recipes and loved the shopping list I got online.  I am using the recipes and the wonderfully healthy food I bought adding it to my ability to weigh and measure and record everything.  Be honest with myself and as soon as I feel well enough I want to move move move.

Calories for May 21 — 1926

Exercise — 0

Well after ignoring this blog for so long  — getting married was wonderful but slowly and surely the weight is creeping back.  I got lazy — everytime I would start an eating right and exercise regime either my body would rebel or something would happen in the family and I would stop.

No more EXCUSES — just do it and do it right.  Weigh, Measure, Record and Move — simple and effective.

Yesterday was Day 1 — I did a really nice 30 minute walk and ate 1911 calories for the day. 

Back tomorrow!!!!

Wow I am going to have to look back at last time I hit Day 19 and see if I had the same amount of energy and still enjoying the plan.  Its like all the knowledge and tools that I have been collecting since I first joined WW back in the 70’s is coming to fruition.  I plan everything — even my eating out.  I must admit I do enjoy having the nutrition available online.  I will have a few issues eating out at people’s houses but I will balance the day - do my best and only do better the next day.  One slip does not a fall create.

Calories for the last few days were

12/05       1724

12/06       1612

12/07        1700 (seriously!!)

12/08        1773

12/09        1708

12/10        1789

Definitely a pattern going on.  And again these do include dinners out - some adjusting for menu items.  Avoidance at my MIL’s - she put out a huge plate of goodies.  She was so focused on her baby she didn’t even notice that I ate nothing.  She is the type that forces food down you.  My husband (that just can never get old for me — grins!!) is the type that really isn’t fond of food - he only eats to live (wish I was more like that) and she still asks him to eat stuff he doesn’t like - asks him to eat more etc etc.  No wonder her daughter was anorexic. 

Back to me LOL.  I haven’t jumped on the scale again – too busy (my excuse).  And because I am not exercising like I know I need to for large losses I am not too eager to get on the scale.  Once I get through the season - and can get into a routine I will be going to the gym more or walking to meet hubby after work. One or the other just have to make it work. Right now I am barely making it out of work on time to drive him home from work.

On the bright side of life I have gone with my son to look at a house he wants to purchase with his girlfriend.  Its fun watching my baby grow up so fast.  He just passed all his exams today and is now a full journeyman electrician.  He has one more exam to get through on Friday and if he passes that one he can go anywhere in Canada (hmmm is that a good thing???)  But finishing up his apprenticeship and looking for houses is certainly good steps for his future and his current girlfriend is his future (definite good thing). I know his dad would be sooooo frikken proud of him.  We will see how the house hunting goes.  Timing couldn’t be better for them - prices are dropping and so is interest rates.  She owns an apartment but will be able to rent it out for way more than her mortgage payment so that’s a good thing too.

Just taking things one day at a time with my lifestyle — it will all be good.  I love how I am eating - enjoy counting every morsel of food — ok that is not completely truthful but I am being honest with myself about what I am eating - -every bit of it.

Lets go back in time and check my calories

11/ 28 — 1756

11/29 — 1511

11/30 — 2006 (two meals out)

12/01 — 1431

12/02 — 1903 (meal out including glass of wine)

12/03 — 1789

12/04 — 1590

So WOW that feels good putting them all down like that.  I love my PDA — I record every single morsel and its so frikken handy.  Not sure if I will weigh myself tomorrow or not — I haven’t moved like I need to for additional loss.  I may not do a Wii workout tomorrow anyway busy day ahead on Saturday.  I drop my sweetie off at work and I wouldn’t mind going to the mall before it opens and get some of my shopping out of the way.  I can drop him off at 8:30 - drive to the mall and do some mall walking until the stores open at 9 - that could help.  We will see if my foot holds up and for how long.  The joy of mall walking is that if my foot gives out all I have to do is sit down for about 5 minutes and it comes back.  At 11 I am meeting my son and his girlfriend to check out a house they want to purchase.  Its far above their pre-approval $$ but nothing is selling here - the sellers want to get out - we will see what happens.  I told my son at the very least the real estate agent will tell them he won’t take the offer if its too low - all a game.  Sunday we are doing the decorating — not to happy with it because all of the electronics in our living room.  Until my son moves his “stuff” out of our basement the home theatre stuff and computers are in the living room - blech.

Now the main excitement is that on Monday (my day off) we are going downtown to see Robin Williams.  This will complete our trifecta of Comedy legends.  In the last three years we have seen live Bill Cosby, George Carlin and now Robin Williams — YAY!!!!