Walking the Lakes

Saturday was gorgeous. So, I hijacked a friend and we went to walk the lakes around LSU. I also tricked her into walking them both.... which is just under 6 miles. I didn't really let her choose. I wanted to get a good walk in and wasn’t sure she'd be open to choosing the same route. ;-)

Anyway, it was wonderful. It was such a beautiful day and it felt great to be outside exercising. And, even better to enjoy the company of a good friend.

Plus, I haven’t done it in years. Truly, it's been like 10 years since I walked the lakes and I was still very heavy then. I realized on the walk how much my quality of life has improved. I was active before. But, my weight was a barrier. It doesn’t seem so exhausting or difficult now to walk the lakes. It feels exhilarating.

Out With Friends

My kids have been out of town and I've been trying to catch up with old friends while I have the time.  Thursday night, I went out dancing with good friends.  It didnt start til 11 pm ... which is VERY late on a "school night"... but it was fun.  And, I burned a lot of calories!! 

Last night, I went out with several more friends.  It's great to be with people I rarely get to see anymore... like my very dear friend Jason (in photo above) who I met when I was 13 years old.  But, it is very hard for me to socialize without drinking.  I'm great at not eating.  They all ate in front of me.  And, I was fine.  But, I want to drink too.

I was trying very hard to be good this week after my one pound gain.  Hmmmm.  I don't really regret going out with my friends, though.  It's part of life.   I just have to figure out how to better balance it all.

UP 1

Well, the results are in.  I'm up one pound.  Yep.  I knew the day would come when I had a real gain on the scale.  Welcome back, my fat friend!

Like I wrote yesterday, I'm going to focus on the fact that for over 30 weeks I've had losses.  That's a pretty amazing thing.  What is also amazing (if you think about it) is that I'm only up 1 pound.  Since I transfered to maintenance a month ago, I have definitely enjoyed a more relaxed diet.  I haven't been so rigid with things.  I needed a little break after 26 weeks in the box.  And, I really have enjoyed having some room to breathe a little of my normal life back in. 

I just need to use this pound of fat as a reminder of what I want... since ultimately I do want to lose some more weight.  So, time to turn this UP 1 into another loss on the scale. 

Monday Morning Quarterback

This happens every week... for most of the 30 weeks I've been in the box at least.  Mondays are weigh in days.  So, I spent most Mondays replaying the game of the week before. 

Here I am starting my 32nd week on this diet, and I'm worried about my first real weight gain.

That's right.  In 32 weeks, I've never gained a pound.  I have had two times that I was up an ounce or two, but in my entire time in the box, I've never gained.  Not over Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years Eve... not even when I went to New York City or Chicago.  So, my record is good.  Real good, actually.  So, why do I play Monday morning quarterback every week?

Perhaps that's why I've been consistently losing? ...because I really do care about losing weight!  I know that on the weeks that I am bad, I generally overcompensate with exercise.  I remember over Thanksgiving all the extra exercise I did...I lost nearly 4 pounds that week.  But, this week... well, I didn't really get to all the extra exercise.  And, I did get out of the box a few times with alcohol.  We had a big 40th birthday celebration for a friend and Mardi Gras.  So, my PA (physical activity) numbers are down but my calories are up. 

Let's hope I have another good weigh in.  But, if I don't... I'm going to focus on the fact that I've been doing this for over 30 weeks and with a loss on the scale almost every single time!  That's pretty darn good.

You Can't Go Home Again

I'm a little anxious about our plans for the weekend.  It's Mardi Gras and I'm headed home... to NOLA.

I was actually planning to avoid the entire weekend and stay away from all the temptations that Mardi Gras brings.  Kingcake, street food vendors, snacks, alcohol... alcohol.... alcohol. But, my folks really wanted us to come.

So in addition to these temptations, I'm headed back home... home... to an environment where I am not know for having the most nutritious diet... where I have never really eaten well.  I was a picky eater as a child who would never try food.  It has really restricted me as an adult and allowed me to establish some pretty bad eating habits.  So, maybe I'm nervous to be the old me again. 

You know how you feel a particular way when you are in certain environments?  Well, when I'm home around my parents I still feel like the child.  This isn't necessarily because they treat me like that... it's just that they are the parents.

Anyway, I'm a little stressed about how I will do.  Can I go home and enjoy Mardi Gras without gaining a pound?  I sure hope so. I'd hate to think I can never go home again.

Calling My Name

 

I was the Mistress of Ceremonies today at the annual Girl Scouts luncheon.  It's been four years since I left the Girl Scouts and it was interesting to be back serving as the hostess of the luncheon.

In my script, I mention it being cookie time and talk about those delicious cookies.  Hmmm, Girl Scout cookies.   Then, we did a raffle for a case of Thin Mints and Samoas.  Saaaaamooooas.  Man, Samoas are delicious.  

Since the luncheon those GS cookies (especially the Samoas) have seriously been on my mind.

I remember one time after Hurricane Katrina when I was still with the Scouts, Rosie O'Donnell came to Baton Rouge and I was her host.  I had already investigated and discovered her favorite GS Cookie.  It was, of course, Samoas.  I had a box waiting for her.  She was excited and said, "I can eat a box myself."  Of course she can... there are only about 12 in one.  Plus, they are so good!  Then she referenced how they help her keep her trim figure.  I could relate.

When I was at the Scouts I was (LITERALLY) surrounded by one million boxes of GS cookies.  We seriously sold one million boxes at my Council.  And, people would pop those cookies back like tic tacks.  And, I certainly had my share. 

While I still believe that some of those GS cookies are the best cookies around, I now see empty calories. Delicious, yet empty calories.  

I miss my little delicious friends but not enough to be that fat again.  I am especially grateful, though, that my thank you gift from today was a pack of a GS cookie variety that I don't find the least bit tempting.  Because.... I'm afraid that a box of those "empty calorie" Samoas might actually be calling my name tonight.

Comparing Apples to Apples

I've never been a big fruit eater.  In fact, the only fruit I currently eat are bananas and apples.  And, apples are alright.  I don't just love them.  Or, I haven't in the past.  What I never really thought about (before the diet) was the magnitude of variety in the apple family.  I just didn't realized how many types of apples exist.

The last few weeks I've spent quite of bit of time comparing apples to apples.  I'm on a quest to discover my favorite.  I have quickly learned that I definitely perfect the ones that are crispy.  And, generally I like the ones that are red with sprinkles of yellow coloring.

In December I was introduced to the Pink Lady variety.  And, it is my favorite to date. I could eat two or three a day. 

This has been an interesting project.  It's good to know that an apple isn't just an apple.