On New Year’s resolutions and a holiday recap

Cheers to 2011!

I pondered a handful of options for a good new year’s resolution but ultimately decided to not make a specific pledge for 2011.  I sort of already did it in September when I started The Mambo Project, a resolution for my lifetime, not just a single year.  Also, New Year’s resolutions have that annoying stigma, the negative assumption that they will always be broken.  I don’t want the pressure. 

I will, however, positively continue with my monthly and weekly Mambo Project goals throughout 2011 and beyond.  I will achieve my lifetime resolution in small manageable steps.

In January I will join a gym.  We have a wonderful local facility called The Canada Games Complex which was built for the 1981 Canada Games hosted by my city.  The Complex, as it is known locally, has a huge larger-than-Olympic sized pool, equipment galore, squash courts, exercise classes, an indoor track, access to trainers and more.  My parents (God bless them) have generously offered to pay for the entire first year of a family membership for Eddy, Coby and me.  They know exactly how important The Mambo project is to all three of us. So...   

Goal for the first week of 2011:  Buy a complex membership and start using it.

Relaxing my typical food rules during the holidays was nice.  I ate what I wanted and sipped a few vodka & cranberries with absolutely no guilt.  I did not over eat.  I ate normal-person portions, balancing rich holiday favourites (like tourtière, a French Canadian meat pie) with lots of veggies on the side.  I wasn’t trying to lose weight. I was just trying to eat like a normal person. 

I didn’t do any Christmas baking.  I didn’t want it in my house, staring at me, tempting me.  I ate one or two bits of baking (as an average-sized person would) when I attended Christmas events, like Coby’s Christmas concert at school. 

Next week on Wednesday when I step on my scale I expect to find that I have maintained, or, at worst, gained one or two pounds, which, as I have said before, is a fair price to pay for a good celebration because this, after all, is real life.

From my family to yours, my friends and fellow bloggers, I wish you a very Happy New Year.  And if you’re on a similar quest for a healthier life, Happy New YOU.

Christmas party, weigh-in day and realistic holiday goals

Here we are on our way to Ed's Christmas party

On Saturday we went to Ed’s station’s Christmas party.  My night-long smile was not because of the good food or the music or the wine.  I smiled because earlier that day, while selecting my party clothes, I was slipping into pants and skirts I haven’t worn for many, many years.   I’m still the fat chick in the photo (albeit not as fat a chick as I was three months ago!) so none of my options were particularly sexy, but I sure as hell felt sexy in them.  

Today was Wednesday Weigh-In Day and I hopped on my scale with true enthusiasm.  I maintained.  Works for me!  Maintaining through the holidays is a realistic and obtainable goal and I recommend it to anyone.  It’s so much less stressful than saying “I will lose weight during the holidays”.  I don’t want to say no to all the delicious food and drinks during the holidays.  At parties and dinners I will enjoy my favourites in moderation, just like my average-sized friends do.   I’ve watched them for years.  I know their habits and learning to live them.   Real life.

Oh, and another reason I was so smiley at Ed’s Christmas party?  The chairs that were painfully (literally, painfully) too tight for me at the same venue two years ago?   The identical chairs gave my butt just enough room this year.   Yeah.  It was a big smile.

Wednesday Weigh-In (on Thursday morning)

A short scale-fear recap:  I have not stepped on the scale for nearly exactly one month.  Following my thyroidectomy my weight fluctuated a bit and seeing a gain after 7 days of healthy eating totally got me down.  I had been reading on-line testimonials from others who had their thyroids removed and most of the news wasn’t great.  Nearly every person gained weight.  One even gained 30 pounds.  Man, if I gained 30 pounds (nearly everything I’d lost) after all my hard work I would be wrecked emotionally. Fearing the psychological ramifications of more gains and disappointments I decided to keep off the scale until I felt strong enough, mentally. 

There are some who may think I did the wrong thing and should have stepped on the scale anyway, but for me, major disappointments drive me to ice cream and slabs of cheese.   I could not take the risk.  If I didn’t step on the scale I could assume I was losing weight.  After all, I was eating well so I should be losing weight.

Today I was up earlier than usual, feeling confident and brave.  I decided to do it.  Before I could change my mind I stepped on the scale and since November 17^th I am down 12 more pounds.  That is now a total of (drum roll, please) 40 pounds lost! 

Obviously I’m thrilled with the number, but I am even more jubilant knowing that I am mastering normal eating.  My lifelong poor eating habits are changing.  My life is changing.

Crafting snowflakes, removing guilt and this week's goal

I am so happy .   Achieving last week’s goal, Coby and I gathered foam snowflakes, sparkly stickers and glitter glue to make 24 of these > 
and a few other ornaments for our tree.  As we crafted our snowflakes we listened to Christmas tunes on my iPod and chatted about all sorts of things (school, Harry Potter, friends, his cat Hermione.)   He kept thanking me and telling me he loves the ornaments and wants to keep them forever.  These are the moments.  These are the moments we cherish but so easily miss when we’re too busy, busy, busy.  

It was a good week.  A very good week.  Acknowledging my recent fear of the scale and letting myself know it was ok to stay off it for a while has given me a new freedom.  Emotional eaters (which most of us are) know how stress can make us mindlessly pop comfort in our mouths.   Fearing the scale, and being afraid to admit it, was making me want to eat.  I stopped myself, but I felt guilt just for wanting.  Guilt.  Just for wanting.  Letting go of the stress – the scale – took away the fear and guilt and the strong urge to overindulge.   I felt happy all week.  Confident.  It was good.

This week's will be another non-food related goal. 

Goal for the week of December 13, 2010:  Declutter!

This is the perfect pre-Christmas goal.  I’m not going to tackle every room.  This week’s goal will just be Coby’s room.  I’ll start there to make room for new toys, books and games.   When I go back to this post in September, I recall that number 4 on my list of First Year Goals is “Declutter My House”.  This week’s goal will be a start. 

Getting rid of house clutter is similar to losing weight.  Excess weight is like clutter on our bodies.  Shedding the clutter, be it body or house, gives us room to move and breath and feel good about ourselves.   I’m up for that.

I'm back with fun December goals!

Hi again.  I know it has been a while.  I’m sorry if I caused anyone to worry while I was absent.  I’m ok.  I had a couple of rough weeks, though.  I felt so tired.  Befuddled.  Frustrated.  I’ve been on thyroid medication for about one month and I think I’m starting to feel better.  I say “I think” because I haven’t felt normal for so long that I’m not sure if I’m there yet.  I doubt I’m at my best yet, but that day will come.  I've been calling this “my new normal” and I’ll take it.  For now. 

I haven’t stepped on my scale since my last weigh-in on November 17^th.   I was well aware that post-thyroidectomy I might gain weight and I thought I was prepared.  Nevertheless, my small gain on the 17th upset me far more than I expected.  Fearing a downward spiral I have avoided the scale since then.  Except for one or two “poor me” moments right after the 17^th, I have continued to make healthy food choices.  Healthy eating is becoming more and more of a normal behaviour for me now, which is a huge accomplishment.   Given the food choices I am making, I should not be gaining weight.   I’m wearing a jacket that I haven’t fit into since 2003, so that’s a great sign.  In order to keep my positive attitude, though, I must not step on the scale until I feel like I am ready for it.  Does that make sense? 

I decided to make my December goals 100% non-food related.  Well, that’s not totally true.  They are goals that will keep me busy so I don’t get tempted by yummy holiday nibbly bits.  You know what I’m talking about.  The wonderful little appys and baking and chocolates and other goodies that are plentiful this time of year. 

Goal for the week of December 6, 2010 – Make Christmas tree ornaments with Coby

Coby and I made a trip to Michaels (looooove Michaels!) to find all the supplies we need to fill our tree with handmade ornaments.  This week we’re going to get started. 

Wednesday Weigh In: Downer

I'm up two pounds this week.  That's right, UP.  I know it's not because of something I did.  If anything I improved my eating habits last week by adding fruit to daily diet.  I’m not completely miserable about the small gain, but I am rather downhearted.  I’m in lower spirits.  Not my chipper, positive self.  Things are somewhat out of my control right now and I hate that feeling.  I hate it. 

Goal for the week of November 15: New fruit

First, you may have noticed there was no Friday Confessional last week.  I couldn't get my act together in time so I decided to just let it go and get back to the Confessional this week.

Today, Monday, is goal day.  Last week's goal: SUCCESS!  I did it.  Fruit every day.  With other parts of my life out of control lately, I felt empowered taking charge of a goal and sticking to it.  This week I'll add another layer to my November plan to introduce Leigh to the wonderful world of fruit.

Goal for the week of November 15: Eat at least three new fruits

I'm no stranger to apples and bananas, but along with orange juice, these are the only fruits I would typically consume.  This week I'm going to try new things.  I'm actually nervous, but also optimistic that I will find something I really love. 

Wednesday Weigh-In: Sigh of Relief

Before I could chicken out, I stepped on my scale as soon as I woke up this morning. After reading so much about people gaining weight after thyroid surgery, I was relieved to see that I didn't gain an ounce.  I re-stepped on the scale two extra times just to make sure the number was correct.  My weight was exactly the same as it was on my last Wednesday Weigh-In, two weeks ago, before my thyroid surgery.  Big sigh of relief.

Hey guess what?  I saw Cpt. Kirk today and he removed my Frankenstein staples.  He said, “Your head didn’t fall off, so that’s good.”  Haha.  I felt so much better afterwards, physically and mentally.  I'm a great deal more comfortable without the pinching every time I move my head and I can see that the scar on my neck is going to be way smaller than I expected.  I'm happy.  Cpt. Kirk, the brilliant and talented surgeon, is officially cooler than a rock star to me. 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away?

Fruit update:  I, the fruit avoider, have stuck to this week’s goal of one piece of fruit per day.  Today's fruit du jour was a big, shiny red delicious apple.  

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away?  Curious about apple nutrition facts, I visited the British Columbia tree fruit website and learned that apples are full of health benefits.  They are high in fibre and vitamin C, boost our immune system and reduce the risk of several diseases, including cancer, Alzheimers and diabetes.  They even whiten teeth!  And they’re so darn yummy.  I like apples.  Why didn't I eat them more often?  Well, I will now.

Goal review and the fruit thing

I haven't re-visited my goals for a while so let's do a quick review.  The first two months of The Mambo Project concentrated on simple weight loss math: 
Eat Less + Move More = Lose Weight

September - East less.  Check.  I got my food intake under control and this continues.

October - Move more.  Start exercising.  Nope.  I had some wonderful suggestions from my fellow bloggers and I did start adding steps to my day at the beginning of October, but my effort faded mid-month.  I will re-visit exercise again as soon as I get the ok from my trusted MD Dr. A. and/or Cpt. Kirk.

So let’s go back to food.  In November I am going to work on adding variety to my diet.  I don't eat enough fruit.  I never have.  I'm just not a big fan.  It's a texture thing.  I enjoy the taste of most fruits but I can't stand the texture.  Oranges are my best example.  I should love oranges.  The smell of oranges makes my mouth water and freshly squeezed orange juice, mmmmmm, I can drink a big glass of it.  But an actual orange?  Uh-uh.  I cannot stand the squeaky sound an orange makes when I bite it.  Sounds a bit crazy, right? 

This week's goal:  Eat a piece of fruit every day

But even the fruit I can handle, like apples and bananas, I very rarely eat.  Seriously.  Almost never. I suppose I have just never made eating fruit a habit.  Isn't that silly?  So this month I am going to concentrate on fruit.  The goal for this week will be simple.



Goal for the week of November 8, 2010 - Eat one piece of fruit every day.

Eddy and Coby both love fruit therefore we always have plenty in our house.  (Haha, as I type this I can hear Eddy biting into watermelon.  See?  He's always eating fruit!)  I ate a banana today so I'm off to a good start!

Friday Confessional: Surgery

When I started The Mambo Project blog I decided I would speak openly and honestly about weight loss.  Not just weight loss triumphs but my struggles and fears as well.  This week I contemplated a specific recent event and wondered whether or not I should write about it.  I hesitated because it’s quite personal, but Eddy convinced me that I need to include it in my blog because I did promise candidness.  He’s right.  And, furthermore, its inclusion is important because it may be something which affects my weight loss for a time. 

On Monday, November 1st, I had a thyroidectomy, surgery to remove my thyroid, the butterfly shaped gland at the base of the neck.  In spring I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.  I know.  Scary word.  But it sounds far scarier than it is.  While there is no “good” cancer, papillary thyroid cancer is one with a very good survival rate.  This type of cancer rarely spreads and with surgery the survival rate is more than 95%. 

A lot of people have asked me how I found out I had thyroid cancer.  About one year ago I felt a lump near the base of my neck on the left side.  I thought it might be swollen lymph nodes and expected to be getting a cold or something.  When after three weeks I was still feeling well but the lump didn’t go away I decided to pop in to see the doctor-on-call at my clinic.  Straight away he said, “That’s your thyroid” and scheduled blood tests and an ultrasound.  The ultrasound showed solid nodules in my left thyroid.   The next steps were an appointment with Dr. A. (my trusted MD), a thyroid uptake scan, a visit with an endocrinologist, more blood work, an ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy, the official diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer and an appointment with a surgeon. 

My surgeon is the amazing Dr. Kirk, whom, at home, we respectfully and affectionately refer to as Captain Kirk to make the whole idea of surgery slightly less scary for our kidlet Coby.  Cpt. Kirk removed the cancerous half of my thyroid in June then completed the thyroidectomy five days ago.   He said the surgery went very well and now, after a couple of nights in hospital, I’m recovering nicely at home.   

Recovering nicely at home



I feel strange.  Have you ever stayed up all night then tried to function normally the next day?  That’s sort of how I feel.  Dreamlike.  Spacey.  I felt down on Thursday when I changed the dressing myself and got my first glimpse of the incision.  Cpt. Kirk is skilled and I know I’ll heal well, but right now I look quite a bit like Frankenstein with a neat row of staples across the bottom of my neck.  I am not the slightest bit vain so I don’t mind that I’ll have a visible scar.  When I do start to feel sad about it I give myself a reality check:  I’ll take the scar over cancer, thank you very much.

Are you wondering how all this might affect The Mambo Project?  The thyroid produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolism.  My mind immediately does the math:  no thyroid = no thyroid hormones = no metabolism = no weight loss.  I am oversimplifying, obviously, but weight gain is one of the side effects of a thyroidectomy.  Eventually medication will be prescribed to replicate the thyroid hormones and I fully expect to lose every ounce I may gain, but at this moment I’m frustrated knowing that my scale may move in an unwelcome direction for a couple of weeks.   I am hoping that if I continue to eat properly I won’t see a gain.  The idea of Wednesday Weigh-In was stressing me out like you wouldn’t believe so I decided to not step on my scale this week. 

I need to stop this.  I mean, come on Leigh, give yourself a break.   Step back.  Consider what you went through this week.  Perspective.  A couple of weeks of slight weight gain are not so bad when you consider that it means I am cancer free.

Friday Confessional: I finally told Eddy

When The Mambo Project began nearly two months ago, I didn’t have the guts to share my weight here on the blog.  The number was way too high.  Way too scary. Only my trusted MD and I knew.  Tonight I finally told Eddy.  It was minutes before we walked into a hilarious comedy show (Derek Edwards).  Perfect timing, right?  I left him no time sit and think about how his wife weighs more than most football players or professional wrestlers.    I shouldn’t have been so ashamed to tell him.  I mean this is my husband.  The man sees me naked.  He knows I’m not Anglena Jolie.  The thing is, even though I’m a big girl, I am still much, much heavier than I look.  I’m not just being a girl about this.  I’m serious.  I do weigh a lot more than you think I do. 

I still don’t quite have the courage to type the number, but I will say this much:  When I began The Mambo Project I weighed more than Eddy...

+ Coby

+ Logan

+ Hermione. 

How’s that for a sobering thought?  However, as of the most recent Wednesday Weigh-In I finally weigh less than the sum of my family. 

Oh, and Eddy?  He was totally fine with the number.  I expected him to be grossed out, but in true spectacular Eddy style, he was not.  Not at all.  This is one amazing man, ladies and gentlemen, and I may seriously be the luckiest girl in the world.

Wednesday Weigh-In: I'm Baaaaaack

Not for much longer!

Today's Wednesday Weigh-In gave me a big, big smile.  I'm down 4 pounds from last week.  Take off the one pound I gained the previous week, add my prior loss-so-far and I'm officially 33 pounds lighter than I was when The Mambo Project began at the start of September.  YaHOOO!

The 4 pound loss happened even though I celebrated my birthday on Sunday!  I'm not a sweets person so in lieu of birthday cake I had a bit of extra lemon chicken at China House.  My parents treated us to dinner.  (Thanks again mom and dad!)

Before dinner we went for a little stroll at one of our favourite strolling places, the boardwalk at Mission Island Marsh, a conservation area.  Graffiti at a place like this usually irks me, but today's silly graffiti made me giggle so we needed to snap a picture for the blog.  Tee hee hee.  Not for much longer!!

Friday Confessional: McDonalds misses me

A few days ago Coby asked for McDonalds.  No problem.  Even though I’m avoiding fast food now, I don’t mind picking something up for my kidlet once in a while.  At the drive thru window the sweet McD lady said, "Hey!  Hi!!  I haven't seen you for a while!  Where have you been?" 

What the?  I was not prepared for that.  I felt a brief moment of panic. They know me that well?  (I shouldn't be surprised.  I used to go there a lot.  A LOT.)   Eek.  How embarrassing.  I didn't know what to say.  I didn't want to diss the food to that nice McD lady and I felt shy about explaining the Mambo Project face to face, so I just told her that I'm not as busy at work so I have more time to go home for lunch. 

It’s true.  It’s not the whole truth, but it is definitely one of the truths.  The main truths are that I feel so much better now that I’m not a McD (or Wendys or A&W or Arbys or Taco Time) regular anymore and, quite frankly, I’m enjoying the extra money in our bank account. 

Wednesday Weigh-In: A fair price to pay

Happy Birthday Eddy!

Yesterday was Eddy’s birthday!  Yay!  Happy Birthday honey!  His pick for dinner was take-out Chinese followed by yummy cupcakes that Coby and I baked together.  I liked the idea of cupcakes.  With birthday cake we tend to cut the pieces far too large (Ok not "we", I cut the pieces far too large.)  Then there is the whole evening out the crooked lines thing.  And let’s not forget licking the icing off the knife.  Cupcakes were safer.  With cupcakes you get what you get.  One little mini cake.  Coby and Eddy enjoyed a few over the past two days but I ate just one following our scrumptious Chinese feast. 

Everything we do has a consequence and my Chinese food/cupcake night lead to my first Mambo Project gain.  Only 1 pound, though.  I won’t call it a failure.  No, it was a fair price to pay for a good celebration.  This is real life. 

Goal for the week of October 18, 2010

First, a review of my prior week’s goal to start walking, instead of driving, to school to pick up Coby. In the words of my cool nearly-nine-year-old kidlet, last week was an "epic fail.”  I didn't walk to school at all.  Not once.  Something always came up.  Because of a few appointments and other commitments I already know I won't be able to do it this week, either.  I'll have to revisit this goal another time.

I'd still like to get my bod moving more this month so I'm sticking with an exercise goal for the current week.  This week's goal is Eddy-inspired.  I'm always impressed by the way he starts each day with a simple routine - push ups, crunches, jumping jacks and a couple other little moves to get his blood pumping.  I looove to watch him, that sexy husband of mine.  When he bends to touch his toes, for example, I'll say, "Honey, I think you should turn around when you do that."  He laughs (and usually obliges!) It's a sexy-sweet little inside joke with us. 

But let's take a closer look at the middle of that paragraph when I say, "I love to watch him..."  Watch him.  Why don't I get up and join him?  So...

Goal for the week of October 18, 2010:  Follow Eddy's lead and start each day with a few simple exercises.

I'm too big for jumping jacks (I haven't jumped since 1997.)  I currently don’t have the upper body strength to lift my mass in push ups.  I can do crunches, though.  So I'll start with those.  Do I remember how?

Rewards

New silver chain holding my special silver cross

I finally picked up little rewards for reaching 20 then 30 pounds lost.  My 20lb reward is something to wear (click here) to the new Harry Potter movie when it opens in 1 month and 2 days (but who's counting?)

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." 

I looove it.

My 30lb reward is a silver chain to replace the one I broke while on vacation in Florida in February.  It holds a pretty silver cross pendant that I bought a couple of years ago.  The cross was made in Mexico and was specially designed for my church.   

How much is 30lbs?




Coby and Eddy in The Amazing Maze

 

Today we visited the pumpkin patch at Belluz Farms, a charming little place owned and operated by the very nice Belluz family.  We got a bit of fun exercise walking through the Amazing Maze, a 3+ acre corn maze.  We also weighed a few pumpkins, trying to find one that was precisely 30lbs so we could know exactly what my weight-loss-so-far feels like. 

Leigh holding a 30lb pumpkin

30lbs is heavier than I expected!  I couldn't hold it for more than a minute or so.  Imagine!  A few weeks ago I was carrying the equivalent of that pumpkin everywhere I went – walking around, getting up from a chair, trudging up and down stairs.  If I had to carry that pumpkin up stairs I don't think I could do it.  

Friday Confessional: Mindless nibbling

After years and years and years of bad habits it is so hard to force myself to adopt new ones.  I want the new habits, but the old ones are so embedded that I slip into them without even realizing. 

This afternoon I was slicing cheese* and suddenly noticed that I’d mindlessly popped two slices in my mouth.  The good news is I’ve mastered a new habit of cutting much smaller, thinner slices so the damage wasn’t too severe.  Funny, though, isn’t it, how one can unintentionally eat extras? 

After today’s cheese incident I wondered how much extra food, over the years, went in my mouth without a thought.  Like when I’d cut a little extra sliver of pie or cheesecake to make the line straight.  Or how about when I would finish my kidlet’s leftover fries or burger?  Back in my pre-Coby days I remember being at a Weight Watchers meeting and some moms were talking about how they finish food from their kids’ plates and I thought...GROSS!!  But there I was, a few years later, doing the same darn thing.  What the heck is up with that?  Moms, do we all do this?  Last month I cut it out.  Now as soon as he is finished I immediately, methodically take his plate and chuck his leftovers the trash.  The sooner they are out of my sight, the better. 

I thought I had done away with mindless nibbling until today’s cheese episode.  I’m not hung up on it, but it did give me reason to think.  I suppose that’s a good thing.

*Note:  Cheese is my biggest RED LIGHT food.  "Red Lights" are what I call the few food items that are really hard for me to resist.  Cheese is #1.  I could easily eat a whole brick of it.  No, I’m not kidding.  Old Cheddar and Gouda are my two favourites.  There is a lovely farm just south of the city, Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, where they make the best Gouda I’ve tasted outside of The Netherlands.  When you visit the farm you can try free samples.  FREE SAMPLES!!!  Soooo hard to resist, yet I’ve tried every type of Gouda they make (many, many times) so I don’t really need to try the free samples anymore.  Right?  I wonder: can I go and not nibble the samples?  Yes, I think I can.  I’ll give it a try soon and let you know. 

What are your Red Light foods?

Wednesday Weigh-In: Glad I ignored her

Last week I felt so discouraged when I held steady with a 0 weight loss after four straight weeks of substantial losses.  You may recall that the fat chick in the photo was ready to pig out on chips and dip in frustration.  I am so glad I ignored her and kept myself on track food-wise because when I stepped on the scale today I was down 5 pounds.  This was a big confidence boost. 

I'm up to a total of 30 pounds lost now!  That means I get to go shopping.  Every 10 pounds I'll be buying something just for me.  After the first 10 pounds I got my hair coloured.  I forgot (can you believe that?) to buy myself a 20-pound gift so now I’m due two me-gifts (one for 20lbs and one for 30lbs.)  I know what I'm going to get and I'll post photos soon.

Adding more steps and getting enough sleep

Last week's goal was to add steps by parking further away from entrances.  I didn't go out much, but when I did, I remembered my goal and it felt good!  I meant to take my camera to snap a picture of Eddy and me at our long distance parking spot when we caught a matinee of The Town (great movie!) this weekend, but I forgot my camera at home.  Next time.

This week's goal will add even more steps to my day.

Goal for the week of October 11, 2010:  Walk to school to pick up Coby.

Coby's school day ends at 3:25.  I figured out that if I leave work at precisely 3:22 I’ll arrive at the school’s Kiss & Ride with perfect timing, missing the initial mad rush of parents retrieving kidlets.  Technically I have to be at work until only 3pm so I could leave work at 3, drive home and have plenty of time to walk to school to pick up Coby.  The school is a measly .5 km from my house.  I should be walking it.  Walking will set a much better example for Coby.  This week I will do it every day.  I will make this a new habit.

I have a bonus goal this week, as well:

Bonus Goal:  Get enough sleep.

Eddy and I caught a story on CTV  News about sleep being directly related to weight loss.  Dieters who got adequate sleep lost more weight than those who were sleep deprived.  Interesting!  Here's a link to the story.

Friday Confessional: The Gardens

Eddy has tickets for a hockey game tomorrow night.  He asked me if I wanted to go, but I told him no because I'd be at a 12 hour scrapbooking event.  (I totally love scrapbooking.)  I was happy that I had a prior commitment.  It's not that I don't want to spend an evening cheering on the Thunderwolves with my husband.  No, the issue is those darn seats again. 

Some seats at The Gardens are ok, but others are really, really narrow.  I know because back in the mid 90s, in my pre-Eddy years, I had a season ticket.  One season, after major renovations, new seats were installed and, let me tell you, mine was a tight squeeze.  When I got home I had bruises on my thighs where the armrests pushed into my legs.  Big, nasty bruises.  There was no way I'd use that excuse to ask for an exchange so I suffered in silence all season. 

At the same arena, a couple of years, ago we saw Pearl Jam.  I know, right?  Pearl Jam in my little, isolated city!  It was so cool.  But, again, my seat was too narrow.  The seat beside me was wider so I, embarrassed as hell, explained my dilemma to the young lady in the roomier seat and asked if Eddy and I could switch seats with her and her boyfriend.  She was so nice about it, God bless her. 

Another seat confession.  I have more of  'em, believe me.

Wednesday Weigh-In, Frustration and Goal for October

Ack.  Here’s the part I hate.  The plateau.  This week my weight loss was zero.  The fat chick in the photo is disappointed and frustrated and feels like chips and dip.  The common-sense-Leigh knows that this is normal, particularly for women during (men, look away, look away!) “that time of the month”.  Back in my Weight Watchers days I learned that when you have a week with zero loss, the loss usually shows up the following week or the week after that.  Often I would get discouraged and not wait to see if this theory was true.  I’d give up.  It’s tough, you know?  But this time I’ll hang in there and see what happens when I step on the scale next week.  I won’t stop by Mac’s for chips and dip.  I promise. 

Now let’s review my goals.  

My September goal was to get my food intake under control using the Canada Food Guide.  I shall declare September a success.  I lost 25 pounds.  I’m eating waaaay less than I used to and my choices are much healthier.  I knew that I would lose weight for a short time by eating less, alone, but now it’s time to add the other part of the equation:  eat less + move more = lose weight.  Given my zero loss this week I’m certain that this is the perfect time for my planned October goal.

Goal for October:  Start exercising.

Goal for the week of October 4^:  Park further away.

I’ll start by adding steps to my day.  No matter where I go, I will not look for the parking spot closest to the entrance.  I will park way on the other side of the parking lot and walk. 

This month will be my biggest challenge.  I haven’t been active in years and I’m pretty scared. 

Hug Check, October 2010

Hug Check, October 2, 2010

Remember how my nearly-nine-year-old son Coby and I decided he will track my weight loss his own way, by doing regular hug checks? 

To see our first hug check click here.  That was about 4 weeks ago.  I've lost 25 pounds since then so we decided it was time for hug check #2.  Here it is > 

Last month his middle fingers were barely touching.  This month he can touch his knuckles.  

WOW!  I wish you could have heard the excitement in his voice.  Nothing motivates me more than this. 

Friday Confessional: Butt

Eddy said he likes my butt.  I said he must prefer quantity, not quality. 

Not my typical Friday confessional, but I’m not in the mood for any tough topics tonight.  I thought I’d give you a wee chuckle instead.  Have a great weekend! xo

Wednesday Weigh-In: September re-cap

Week 1: -12 lbs
Week 2:   -4 lbs
Week 3:   -7 lbs
Week 4:  -2 lbs (This week)

As of today I've lost a total of 25 pounds!!  Am I happy?  You bet I am!  Am I proud of myself?  HELL YES!  Has it been easy?  No, not exactly.  I feel like my head is in the right place and I'm ready for this so I've been enjoying it, but the fat chick in the photo still tries to throw me off track with comfortable, old bad habits.  I'm determined to win this battle so she's going to have to just back off.

Goal for the week of September 27, 2010

Last week I paid special attention to portion sizes, specifically grains like rice, cereal and pasta.  I think I did all right.  I'm really getting the hang of the "eat less" side of my weight loss adventure. I'm especially mastering the art of eating protein. The "Rule of Palm" is working very, very well. 


Our 10th Anniversary at The Prospector Steakhouse

For example, on our 10th anniversary Eddy and I went out for dinner at a great local restaurant called The Prospector Steakhouse.  I decided I would eat whatever I wanted.  I ordered prime rib, but the smallest cut, 5oz.  Imagine my glee when it was served and I realized it was just about exactly the size of my palm!  I also had a baked potato with sour cream, cooked carrots, a nice assortment from the salad bar, one glass of an Australian Cabernet-Shiraz and the famous Prospector buns (hands down, yummiest buns ever.)  After dinner I was full, but not F U L L. It was nice.  My former dining out tendency was to eat and eat until I was overstuffed and uncomfortable.

I did eat more calories than I should have, but I felt no guilt.  None.  I decided to eat what I wanted just to prove to myself that I could return to my new normal eating habits the very next day, just like my regular-sized friends do.  This is what I long for.  I want to be able to celebrate a special occasion with a feast, but eat regular sized meals on all other days.  This is not my default setting.  What I’m used to is the common weight loss pitfall:  Overeating, saying “Oh well, I already screwed up this week”, perpetuating the food free-for-all, giving up and quitting.  I don’t want to do that anymore.  I want to eat like a normal person. So that brings us to this week's goal. 

 

This week's goal:  Return to normal eating after a guilt-free evening of celebratory overindulgence. 

Funny.  It should be easy but it feels so unnatural.