Are the Holidays over yet?

Chaos! That's what the holidays feel like to me. Here I'm going along losing 2.5 pounds a week--like clockwork. Then a child who I haven't seen in four months comes home for two weeks, we go on vacation (in a record-setting snow storm) and celebrate Christmas. This was more action in two weeks than I see in a year. And talk about sticking to my black and white eating regimen--well that was out the window.

I missed two classes and gained 2.5 pounds during this time. If I had not been on this regimen it would have been more like 10 pounds. Honestly I think I did all right for going on vacation and celebrating Christmas. I ate out in restaurants a few times on vacation and took part in two Christmas dinners. I did no exercise though and that would have really helped.

After last night's weigh in I got my focus back. Today I stayed "in the box" as we say. Started my morning with two cups of coffee, but instead of reading every word of the newspaper I got my butt on a bike and rode for 30 minutes.

Funny story about that 30 minutes.... Twenty-five Wednesday mornings a year I panic when I wake up and realize the housekeeper is coming and scramble to clean up so she can actually clean. While today was Wednesday I totally forgot she was coming and the house was "well lived in," but I was also hell bent on getting in my exercise. So.....I apologized to the poor woman and said, "Please just do the best you can. I realize it's a mess." Next I woke up my husband to let him know the housekeeper was in the house and he should get up. Still focused on working out I hustled downstairs plugged in my MP3 player and got on my bike. Thirty minutes later I was upstairs standing on the deck drinking water and cooling off when Mr. One-Wednesday- a -Year says, "How could you have just let her (housekeeper) in and then gone off and worked out. The kitchen was a mess and I had to put away the dishes, etc....."  I do this every Wednesday, I explained, and had already told the housekeeper to do the best she could with the way I had left things.  Why is it that I only hear about what I don't do? In another time--oh let's say this past September--I would have been upset and eaten a donut and then started the cycle of eating fat, sugar and butter. That did not happen this time. Yay me!

What's so fun about losing weight?

I'm at a place in my weight loss journey where it's actually fun and sometimes funny...

It's funny when your pants are too big and you have to go home and put on a belt. This happened to me this week. I was at the drugstore and I noticed that my pant legs were dragging the floor and I kept having to yank them up. Planning to do more shopping that day, I knew I could not go on to mall hoisting my pants up every few steps. Good problem to have.

On the other hand,  it was fun shopping for underwear for once. I didn't have to buy granny panties.

While shopping I tried on some sweaters in smaller sizes and was surprised that I could get into and look fine in most mediums. I've been living in XLs. Didn't buy anything but a few mock turtlenecks to get me through the next month--bought those in large since they were very inexpensive and will likely shrink.

It's also fun putting clothes in the dryer and not worrying about shrinkage. Right now all my clothes are a bit too big so dry away!

Traveling on the Diet part 2

I'm in Los Angeles this week and had to fly. Sooooo..... it took a little more thinking to than when I drove to Tennessee and could bring my kitchen! Essentially I figured out my minimum prescription and packed those items--shake packets, entrees and bars.

The flight was four hours so I knew I would need to eat and warming an entree was less hassle than making a shake on board. I was uncomfortable asking the flight attendants if they could warm my entree on the plane, because lately airline employees are a bit cranky. I was completely surprised that they not only warmed it, but took the time to come by and see if it was all right. They were so unusally nice I'm still surprised.

This morning I used the coffee maker to create hot water for my oatmeal and it worked beautifully. Bowl and spoon were packed in my luggage along with my Bullet shake maker.

What makes this trip so fun is that I packed some gorgeous clothes that I had not been able to wear for at least a year and a half. When I slipped into them it was the greatest feeling.Yay they fit and I look good in them. Oh and last night I was able to wiggle out of my jeans without unfastening them. I may need new jeans sooner than I thought.

Monday

Took the dogs on a long walk in the woods yesterday. It was refreshing for all of us to swish through the fallen leaves, find deer trails, and watch birds.

Stayed on track again this weekend. I will miss my class this week because I'll be out of town, but plan to stay true to my diet.

Got out some clothes I haven't worn in awhile and it was terrific that some were too big and others fit nicely. My mom gave me some things that didn't fit her anymore and I was able to say that they would not fit me because they are too big.

Last Night's Weigh In and Ice Skating

I peeled off another 1.5 pounds this week for a total of 17.5 pounds in seven weeks. Heading into the eighth week of the program I have a few challenges coming up. Next week I have a business trip with a few meal meetings and the next week I am going on vacation with my family--so eating out is a problem sometimes. Everyone in class assures me that just bringing along my entree is fine and that restaurants will heat it up for me. Still seems embarrassing though. But I guess since everyone else is ordering off the menu that it won't be like going to a restaurant alone and just taking up space and asking to have my own meal warmed.

Yesterday I ice-skated for over an hour at the outdoor rink in Frontier Park with my brother. It was a lot of fun since the park is decorated for Christmas and everyone who was skating was having a great time. My shins are sore today from my skate boot. Surprisingly I did not fall once!

Getting Dressed

Today I actually "slipped" into a pair of pants! No struggling with the closure, no sucking it in, no muffin top exposure. Feels good to have your clothes fit. I didn't have to go through my closet to see what might or might not fit. Just picked up a pair of cords and on they went. My exercise plan is to get to the skating rink before I go to my class tonight. Trying to embrace cold-weather out of doors activities.

Update post Thanksgiving

On the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving I weighed in and had lost another pound. We usually weigh in on Thursdays, but since it was a holiday we did it earlier. Happy with the one pound.

On Thanksgiving I fully prepared to eat "inside the box" as we call it, but when I showed up at Matt's house I decided to eat what he had made. So I had a small plate with small amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, greenbeans, stuffing, a roll and a small piece of pie. It was good and I'm glad I took part in the dinner, and also glad that I didn't over indulge. So not worth it.

Earlier in the day I watched the Macy's Day Parade while riding my stationary bike in the living room. My son and his friend brought it up from the basement a day earlier. Since then I've hopped on it a few times while watching a show. Not a bad way to burn calories.

As for exercise, I won't be winning any awards, but I have been moving! Sunday I walked with my good friend Lisa around Frontier Park. Monday night I revisited the infamous aqua boot camp class and yesterday was so gorgeous outside for a late November day that I took the dogs for a 3-mile walk. Today will probably be another water class or bicycling. Tomorrow I plan to ice skate at the new outdoor rink in Frontier Park.

On another note--and it's not a good one--I ate outside the box today. It was there and I ate it. Kind of surprised me to tell you the truth. I've been fending off "outside" food really well for 7 weeks and then today I just crumbled. I don't think it's huge deal, but not proud of it either.