Category: weight loss

I know, you’re thinking, “Mich, just get on with your damn diet already!!” And, I’m proud to say that–I AM!!

I have finished my “preparations” and I’m feeling some mojo coming my way, so here’s hoping.

Tasks accomplished:

1.)I purchased a Health-o-meter digital scale, and it came with a free pedometer and a little chart to chart steps and weight. How nifty. And it’s supposed to keep track of two people’s weights +/-. I haven’t figured out that part yet.

But here’s the crazy thing–I LIKE how much I weigh on my new scale. According to my new scale, I “only” have 10lbs to lose, which would put me at my WW goal range, as well as put me at the weight on my driver’s license. What? Am I serious? Yes, I am serious. I started driving in 1990 (a month later than scheduled, but that’s another post) and in 1990 I lied and put this weight on my driver’s license. I never changed it….even when I renewed my license at 21 and weighed fifty pounds over what I have listed as my weight.

The other crazy thing? The 10 lbs I need to lose is total flab. Because the last time I weighed this much, I was in much better shape and could have probably fit into my size 12’s. I was going to the best gym in the whole wide world 4-6 times per week, AND walking with my girlfriend 3-4times per week. No lie.

SOOOO……not only did I buy a scale, I bought some resistance equipment and a DVD. And at some point during my day, I will find time to use them.

2.) I have menus planned, which I will post tomorrow, since I’m about out of time. And after I post the menus tomorrow, I may actually get back to our regularly scheduled program, which involves a certain redhead who has completely recovered and is back to her old tricks (thank goodness)!!

3) I installed a ticker down below that will track BMI, just for fun. One of these days, I may apply numbers to these sorts of things. We’ll see.

So Tuesday, the day of the MayDay Challenge is fast approaching. I did some brainstorming last night. I’m still no where near any sort of “menu planning”, but I’ve got breakfast and snacks covered. And really, if you have snacks, in my book, you’ve got it made.

As anyone who knows WW knows, one of the main keys of a healthy weight is fiber. The more of it you eat, the better you feel, the less crap, literally, hangs out in your colon, the better. So I am always on the look out for good “carbs”–snacky foods with Fiber with a capital F.

I went to the Mothership of Fiber last night–Trader Joe’s. If you don’t know the joy that is TJ’s, I am sorry. I LOVE Trader Joe’s. I always find fantastic food at decent prices and the whole crew who works there is just so darn happy to be there that you can’t help but be in a good mood too.

Last night was not different. I found some great new (to me) snacks and picked up some old favorites. And then I took them home, figured out the points, pre-portioned the ones that needed it and ate just 1 portion of one item (and 1 portion of another…but that’s it).

Here’s what’s in my pantry:

Cinnamon sugar pita chips: the info on the side is decieving–sure it’s only 2pts per serving, but a serving is 1 oz!! That’s like a chip and a half. So I divided the bag into 3 servings (instead of 7) and called each bag 4 points.

Sweet and salty cookies: OMG!! Light and crunchy, sort of like peanut butter cookies but better…only 1 pt per cookie!!

Chocolate toucan bite size graham crackers: Pre-packaged in 100 calorie bags. 2 points. Haven’t tried them yet, but how can they be bad??

Whole Wheat English Muffins: These bad boys pack 5 grams of fiber per muffin, which makes them just 2pts. Add 1 tbsp of peanut butter and you’ve got a fiber/protein rich breakfast, with a point or two for coffee cream and some fruit!!!

To Do:
find and dust off pedometer
plan some freakin’ dinners already
buy a scale
take a “before” picture

Ok, where was I? Oh yes….preparing to find myself minus a few pounds. (Does about 15 count as a few?)

Since my last post this morning, we’ve discovered that the Babe may have the Strep. Ack. The rapid strep test came back negative, but we were sent for a culture since, apparently, her tonsils are covered in puss. (I’m taking the PA’s word for it–not looking myself) She’s still feverish, and currently she’s sleeping off the torture that was the doc’s office.

The bonus? We got one of the antibiotics on Meijer’s “free” list. And guess what? They are really free, AND they gave us a dosing syringe too! To celebrate, I thought I’d go to McD’s and get the Babe a milkshake (for her throat, you know) and maybe some lunch for myself while waiting for the Rx. While driving to the drive thru, I realized, “Wait! I just blogged about becoming a skinny girl!! I can’t eat McD’s!” But I did–a southwest salad and 3/4 of a small milkshake (the Babe was asleep by this time and couldn’t part take of her share–it’s in the freezer for her). You know what? The Southwest salad is really good!! As far as I can tell, besides the tortilla strips and maybe the marinade for the grilled chicken, I don’t think it was too bad for me either. And I’m full, so I won’t be snacking anytime in the near future.

So back to May Day.

I went on my first diet in the 6th grade. I counted calories with a little book that listed foods and their calories, since most foods weren’t labeled as such. I lost 6lbs and grew THREE INCHES that year, and didn’t really have any weight issues until about the 10th grade. The 10th grade, you ask?? Yes, the 10th grade. I played sports in junior high (not well, but even the bench warmers had to practice) and I had PE everyday in 9th grade…but once 10th grade hit, well, I stopped most forms of physical exercise. Add that to the new found freedom of friends who could drive, and suddenly I was eating out and leading a very sedentary lifestyle.

I was a size 18 when I graduated high school, and a 20 (soemtimes 22) when I graduated college. Upon graduation, I moved in with a girlfriend and we joined Weight Watchers and had a fabulous summer–one I like to call “the summer of the Jell-o”. This was before WW had the points system, and you were supposed to eat a certain number of servings of each food group, and then there were “free” foods–Jell-o was a free food. Add that to the fact that the summer of 1995 was one of the hottest ones on record and I lived in an unairconditioned apt, and well, the weight literally “melted” off. That fall I was accepted into a Montessori training program, and while I tried to continue WW while in school, I couldn’t get to meetings or meal plan very well. But the weight that I lost stayed off–I was a size 16 (sometimes 14), something I hadn’t seen since my junior year of high school.

Fast forward 7 years, and I join WW again one summer when I realize that my clothes aren’t actually shrinking, my ass is actually growing. I join with a few good friends, and find fantastic success. I was determined and focused and dedicated, and after a few short months, I was a size 12. I don’t really remember being a size 12 ever before…..but I liked it..ALOT. I became a Lifetime Member sometime in 2003, but lost focus (this sort of parallels with wanting to become a mom at about the same time)….and well, haven’t been back since. And nowadays, I’m a size 14 (occassionally a 16, and hey, my Easter skirt was a 12)………but I’d really like to get back to being a solid 12. A confident 12. I’d like to get back to only taking size 12’s into the dressing room. To not trying on clothes the night before to see if they fit or not.

So how am I going to do that?!?! I belong to a gym, but don’t actually go–I haven’t talked about it in awhile, but I’m still going to the chiro, and not really up for “working out” quite yet. I can walk around the block pushing the megastoller a few times without any ill effects. I own an exercise ball that I use for back exercises. I’ve all but stopped cooking, but keep the house stocked on fruit and frozen veggies. I’ve always only drank diet soda. I always go for the non-fat latte. I need to figure out a plan before May 8th.

I also need to buy a scale. Anyone have a good one??