Look who’s Losin’ it…

I’m not into cooking these days. Making lots of protein shakes… too many probably. Usually have 2 or 3 a day. This means all the remaining veggies from the garden are going bad in the fridge. I did make steamed broccoli the other night… the remaining from the garden and fridge, so there was LOTS to cook. Have the leftovers to munch on, but so far still drinking my shakes. Think I’m a little addicted.

Before the frost 2 nights ago, I picked 8 small eggplant… (not bad for someone who is clueless about growing them!). So I need to do a baked eggplant dish of some kind, without too many calories. Oh, and peppers… have a small bag of sweet peppers, and some green beans. Maybe I should just do a big veggie bake, and freeze the leftovers? Or a soup? Truth is, my creative cooking juices are just not flowing right now. I could hook up to a chocolate banana protein shake I.V. and be perfectly okay with that. I go through phases, this too shall pass (gawd I hope!).

My weight is holding at 154, which is a relief. My mini-goal was to get down to 150 by October 1st, but… not to be pessimistic, but 4 pounds in less than 2 weeks? I’ll be happy to lose 1 or 2 lbs by then. My trip down to NM kinda wore me out, so for now I’m still recovering from the fun, sun and activity.

My pattern seems to be that I’ll go on a small losing streak, losing 2-4 pounds or more. Then I stay in a holding pattern for 3-5 weeks. Then I get really grumpy about it and change things up… walking more, running longer, zizag my calories, staying on plan religiously, etc. Then I see that 2-4 pound drop again, and then the holding pattern… it’s all a big cycle. And that’s okay with me. It’s like my body and brain need time between losses to readjust or something.

I have lots of room for improvement. I could lift weights more, I could push myself more with running, I could join the YMCA. I could eat LOTS more veggies and fruit, more water, more fiber. But I am happy for now, inching along and enjoying my small victories.

Just played around on the calculator and realized I’ve lost 20% of my body weight. Wow. BUT, I still have 10 pounds left of the 50 pounds I want to lose… so that’s 20% of my weight loss goal. There’s still a ways to go, and I don’t want to get complacent.

Okay I know I’ve been posting lots of pics lately, but here’s another before/after… One year ago, and now…

Nice white legs, lol!!

Here are a few photos I wanted to share. I was pleasantly surprised looking at photos from my trip to New Mexico… it’s really starting to hit me that the weight is coming off. Not just in #’s but in my face, my arms and butt… and my friend’s reaction when she picked me up at the airport… “wow you look GREAT!” I’m starting to see it, too… yay!

Summer ‘08 193 pounds; Sept ‘09 154 pounds

?? pounds, Oct. 2003; 154 pounds Sept ‘09

October 2003; September 2009

October 2003; Sept. 2009

I’m on vacation at my friend’s house in New Mexico. It’s absolutely gorgeous here. Sunny, dry, warm but not hot. I’m in heaven.

The air here is much thinner than I’m used to. We went for a run yesterday (I ran, she pedaled along on her bike), and I was out of breath within a few minutes. Dang! Finally was able to build up to a decent trot, but still took several walking breaks.

Today we drove way, way out to no man’s land for a hike. After driving all over on unmarked dirt roads, over dry creek beds and along barbed wire fences, we gave up on finding the trail we were seeking. Trigo Canyon Falls, anyone heard of it? Me neither. But it sounded pretty cool… a 7 mile hike up to a nice waterfall. Oh well… we had a great time anyway, walking up and down the creek beds with her 3 labs, collecting pretty rocks. It’s so different down here. When I lived in Albuquerque back in the early 90’s, I was young and didn’t really appreciate its unique beauty. Now I have my camera out taking pictures left and right.

It’s good to get away for a few days. It feels good to feel thinner, too. It was actually fun to pack, and fun to shop for a few things for the trip. I bought 2 pairs of shorts (large’s were too big..!! I can’t believe I’m wearing MEDIUM’s!!), 2 tank tops, and 2 capri/sweats. Marshall’s is having a great clearance sale on summer clothes. Didn’t pay more than $7 for each thing.

DF is very supportive of my weight loss journey. She’s telling everyone I lost 40 lbs, all proud of me. She’s like a big sister and it feels good to hear her praise. I think we’re just hanging out this evening after our hike outing. We had Mexican food for lunch at a little mom & pop place. Diet or not, I’m eating Mexican food ’cause you just can’t find the stuff up in Vermont. I’m absolutely loving it, too… had stuffed sopapillas with carne adovada last night, today a taco & burrito. DF’s probably getting sick of the stuff, but even if I have to go it alone I will have at least one more Mexican meal before heading back home.

On that note, I hope like crazy that my medium shorts still fit after this trip. If not, well, I will hop back on the horse, no big deal.

One year ago, Aug 2008… 193 lbs// Me now… 156 lbs

Yay, I bought a new swimsuit today! A miraculous thing happened… the FIRST suit I tried on fit, looked good and was the one I am wearing now as I write this. I just modeled it for DH and he loves it on me. Double yay!

So I’m taking care of 2 diet rewards this week. The swimsuit is #1, and visiting my DF in New Mexico is #2. I am very excited to fly down (well the flying part not looking forward to, since I’ll be flying standby)… it’s been almost 2 years since we saw each other last. I can’t wait to catch up over wine and good Mexican food.

The weather’s supposed to be in the 80’s and she has a pool, and for once in ages I’m looking forward to taking a dip. Not to go on & on about my new suit, but it’s Land’s End (from Sears), kinda sporty, flattering colors…

I can’t seem to break down and spend money on “thin clothes”… probably because I’m not thin yet, not quite out of the woods. According to the BMI chart I’m still overweight. And I’m cheap! I don’t want to spend money on stuff I’ll eventually shrink out of.

Thank goodness for my sewing machine. I have nipped in the waist and hips of many pairs of jeans, even turned a pair of old black chinos into bermuda shorts. I’ve taken in loose tank tops and t-shirts. So now that my old bras aren’t supporting me anymore, and new bras are so expensive… I turned to my trusty sewing machine yet again.

I experimented on an old black Wacoal bra, from my somewhat thinner days, that had become all stretched out and limp. It wasn’t too difficult to take it in from the back and sides… wow it worked! It looks like hell but fits like a new snug bra, yay! Then I doctored up another bra, a flesh-colored Wacoal that I’ve been using as a sport bra, so it was already trashed. Voila! I’m taking her out for a test drive today. My bouncy run should tell me (and the passing vehicles) how the Bionic Bra holds up. If my tinkering works, there’s another bra waiting for a tune-up.

Chocolate soy milk: bad. I can’t just drink one glass (160 cals!). Bought some on sale yesterday, we normally don’t keep it in the house. NOW I remember why… it’s so delicious.

This time of year always bums me out a little… today I walked through the garden and picked our last beans and zucchini. I’ve been in denial about the tomato blight issue… I kept hoping that maybe my little green babies could make it through, since I grew them from seed and nursed them along from day one. Nope. Some with big brown spots have already fallen to the ground. I picked most of the rest today. The kitchen windowsill is lined with green to almost-red tomatoes. I scored a recipe on the internet for green tomato chutney, which sounded interesting. When life hands you lemons…

DH bought a book about shed building today. We have the location planned out… on the west side of our veggie garden, set on an angle facing south/west. It’ll be 6′x8′, built with mostly salvaged materials. I’m so psyched! We’ve lived here for almost 4 years, and have needed a shed since day one. But this shed is special because it’ll be my garden/potting shed, and I’ll make it cute. I think DH is a little nervous since this is his first attempt at a project this size. But I have faith in him… it’ll turn out great.

I like my new food scale. Still figuring out how to use it…

Ran around all day. Main objectives were to buy nails for the soon-to-be potting shed DH is building for me (so excited!), and shop for groceries.

Stopped at Walmart first and bought myself a digital food scale for $20. Also broke down and got some new underwear because my old panties are getting too big! Too much information? I tried on a bunch of denim capri shorts on sale, and jeans.. really just to get an idea of what size I am now. Nothing grabbed me, but I did find a pair of gray plaid bermuda shorts at Marshall’s for $5!! Only a few days left of summer, but I’m still psyched to wear them as long as I can.

I kinda got out of control with my eating for a few days. (I don’t even like s’mores… what was I thinking)? So I’m back to ‘the plan’ and looking forward to it. Didn’t get my walk in today, unless you count hiking through Home Depot and Walmart, which makes me feel crappy. I feel better when I feel focused and on a mission. I don’t like straying too far.

I’m anxious to try out my new food scale!

Me and the kitties today, soaking up the sunshine