Day 151
Memorial Day Weekend 2010 is in the books and I find myself torn between contentment and sadness. Some of my favorite people in the world descended upon the Angell compound this weekend for some fun and frivolity. And, true to our "This is What We Do" mantra, we partied like Rockstars.
Everyone is on their way home as I write this post, which is why I'm a bit sad. It's like the let down you get the Day After Christmas and the batteries have died on all your new toys. I hope they arrive safely knowing that we could not love them more if they were blood relatives.
Let's just say that this was not a healthy weekend by any stretch of the imagination. But, it was fun. Remember that 80/20 rule? Be great 80% of the time so that you can indulge 20% of the time? Well... I'm pretty sure that I won't be indulging like that again until July 4th weekend and I'll be hitting the treadmill every day this week to negate the weekend's festivities.
Yesterday, I rocked my first bikini in years. And, for once, I was not ashamed by the way I looked in it. I bought it three maybe four years ago and I've never worn it.... that is until we decided that it might be fun to give the Slip-N-Slide we bought for the kids a whirl. Sometimes we adults forget that we're not kids anymore. But, this is what makes us so fun to hang around with. Originally, I had banned my husband from the Slip-N-Slide as he is very danger prone. But, the commissioner relented and sanctioned a session. Fortunately, no limbs were broken. Although, there was some minor bruising of hips and egos.
I'll have to work hard this week to show a loss for Wednesday weigh in. I'm pretty sure I didn't lose any weight. But, I did lose some things that have needed get rid of for a while now... self doubt, self consciousness, self pity and self loathing. Those bastards like hanging around in my head. I keep kicking them out. But, sometimes they climb in through and open window and wreck my self esteem. But, I feel good about myself again. And, it's only gonna get better from here.
Have a Safe and Wonderful Memorial Day. I'm going to take a nap. Back to back days of not going to bed until 4 am are catching up to me.
Cheers!
Margaret
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Even Your Feet Shrink!
Day 147
Did you know that when you lose weight that you can lose weight in your feet too? It makes sense I suppose. I just never really thought about it. I've had an issue finding boots that would fit for years because I have thick calves. But, seriously, who knew that you could go down half a shoe size just by dropping a few "el bees"?
We concentrate on the obvious when we lose weight like a smaller pants size. But, do we ever think about those more obscure body parts?
For instance:
My rings fit better.
My watch fits better.
I had to get a smaller bra.
And... (sorry fellas) smaller panties.
Oh yeah... my neck is smaller too. ( I confess that I knew about this one though and I'm very happy to be taking up less head space)
I'm not complaining. I just find it funny. It used to be that my underwear would fall down because of my belly fat. Now they fall down because they're too big. If these are the biggest things I have to worry about, I think I'll be just fine.
Cheers!
Margaret
Did you know that when you lose weight that you can lose weight in your feet too? It makes sense I suppose. I just never really thought about it. I've had an issue finding boots that would fit for years because I have thick calves. But, seriously, who knew that you could go down half a shoe size just by dropping a few "el bees"?
We concentrate on the obvious when we lose weight like a smaller pants size. But, do we ever think about those more obscure body parts?
For instance:
My rings fit better.
My watch fits better.
I had to get a smaller bra.
And... (sorry fellas) smaller panties.
Oh yeah... my neck is smaller too. ( I confess that I knew about this one though and I'm very happy to be taking up less head space)
I'm not complaining. I just find it funny. It used to be that my underwear would fall down because of my belly fat. Now they fall down because they're too big. If these are the biggest things I have to worry about, I think I'll be just fine.
Cheers!
Margaret
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday Weigh In and a dose of Cold Hard Reality
Day 146
I need some accountability so I'm trying something new called Wednesday Weigh Ins. I borrowed this idea from another weight loss blogger (21 Days Later).
I'm ready to acknowledge my real beginning weight since my new scale is apparently way more accurate than the old one. It's taken me several weeks to be able to say it out loud and it ain't easy. So... here goes.
Beginning Weight: 259
Current Weight: 235.8
Net Loss: 23.2 lbs.
It's going to be hard looking at that beginning number every single freakin week. But, it will get easier as the current number begins to go down again. I've pretty much been gaining and losing the same three pounds for a month now and it's because I've lost my way a bit. I know I keep talking about it and I keep saying I'm not making excuses. But, the cold hard reality is that until I get off my ass and get back to doing the things I know that work, making excuses is exactly what I’m doing.
Have I been apathetic lately? Yes. Have I been sabotaging myself? Yes. At the end of the day, it’s all about making a choice. It is completely within my power to make the right choices. As Dr. Phil would say, you can't change what you don't acknowledge. To that end, I acknowledge that I've been feeling sorry for myself. I acknowledge that I've let my lapse linger for far too long. I accept responsibility for and the results from these behaviors. I publicly pledge to lose at least 1-2 lbs a week for the next four weeks. I publicly pledge to exercise no less than 5 days a week for the next four weeks.
I am going back to ONE free day per week instead of free WEEKENDS or free WEEKS! This week’s free day is Saturday.
I ask my followers and supporters keep me honest and don't take my crap. Kick my butt when I need it. If you see me doing something we both know I shouldn’t, call me on it. Please help me police me. :)
Cheers!
Sheriff Margaret
I need some accountability so I'm trying something new called Wednesday Weigh Ins. I borrowed this idea from another weight loss blogger (21 Days Later).
I'm ready to acknowledge my real beginning weight since my new scale is apparently way more accurate than the old one. It's taken me several weeks to be able to say it out loud and it ain't easy. So... here goes.
Beginning Weight: 259
Current Weight: 235.8
Net Loss: 23.2 lbs.
It's going to be hard looking at that beginning number every single freakin week. But, it will get easier as the current number begins to go down again. I've pretty much been gaining and losing the same three pounds for a month now and it's because I've lost my way a bit. I know I keep talking about it and I keep saying I'm not making excuses. But, the cold hard reality is that until I get off my ass and get back to doing the things I know that work, making excuses is exactly what I’m doing.
Have I been apathetic lately? Yes. Have I been sabotaging myself? Yes. At the end of the day, it’s all about making a choice. It is completely within my power to make the right choices. As Dr. Phil would say, you can't change what you don't acknowledge. To that end, I acknowledge that I've been feeling sorry for myself. I acknowledge that I've let my lapse linger for far too long. I accept responsibility for and the results from these behaviors. I publicly pledge to lose at least 1-2 lbs a week for the next four weeks. I publicly pledge to exercise no less than 5 days a week for the next four weeks.
I am going back to ONE free day per week instead of free WEEKENDS or free WEEKS! This week’s free day is Saturday.
I ask my followers and supporters keep me honest and don't take my crap. Kick my butt when I need it. If you see me doing something we both know I shouldn’t, call me on it. Please help me police me. :)
Cheers!
Sheriff Margaret
Monday, May 24, 2010
How to Eat and Live Clean
Day 144
I'm posting this more for myself than anything else so I ask you to please stick with me because I need to hear this.
The soul of clean eating is consuming food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle approach to food and its preparation, leading to an improved life - one meal at a time.
Eat five to six times a day - three meals and two to three small snacks. Include a lean protein, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a complex carbohydrate with each meal. This keeps your body energized and burning calories efficiently all day long.
Drink at least two liters of water a day.
Get label savvy. Clean foods contain just a few ingredients. Any product with a long list of ingredients is human-engineered at not considered clean.
Avoid processed and refined foods such as white flour, sugar, bread and pasta. Enjoy complex carbs such as whole grains instead (ie whole grain flour, bread and pasta)
Know thy enemies. Steer clear of anything high in saturated and trans fats, anything fried or anything high in sugar.
Consume healthy fats (essential fatty acids, or EFAs) every day.
Learn about portion sizes and work toward eating within them.
______________________________________________________________
There's more to it. But, this is what I really need to be mindful of. I've gotten away from clean eating. I know I've said this quite a few times over the last several weeks. But, it doesn't make it any less true.
I'll eventually get it right.
Cheers!
Margaret
I'm posting this more for myself than anything else so I ask you to please stick with me because I need to hear this.
The soul of clean eating is consuming food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle approach to food and its preparation, leading to an improved life - one meal at a time.
Eat five to six times a day - three meals and two to three small snacks. Include a lean protein, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a complex carbohydrate with each meal. This keeps your body energized and burning calories efficiently all day long.
Drink at least two liters of water a day.
Get label savvy. Clean foods contain just a few ingredients. Any product with a long list of ingredients is human-engineered at not considered clean.
Avoid processed and refined foods such as white flour, sugar, bread and pasta. Enjoy complex carbs such as whole grains instead (ie whole grain flour, bread and pasta)
Know thy enemies. Steer clear of anything high in saturated and trans fats, anything fried or anything high in sugar.
Consume healthy fats (essential fatty acids, or EFAs) every day.
Learn about portion sizes and work toward eating within them.
______________________________________________________________
There's more to it. But, this is what I really need to be mindful of. I've gotten away from clean eating. I know I've said this quite a few times over the last several weeks. But, it doesn't make it any less true.
I'll eventually get it right.
Cheers!
Margaret
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Spring Cleaning Workout
Day 143
Who would have ever thought that an entire weekend of "spring cleaning" would leave you feeling like you'd just ran a marathon and competed in a bench press contest with the Arnold all in the same day? I swear if I wasn't so lazy, I'd go out and get some kind of construction or manual labor job because that shit will keep you in shape! My hat is off to the men and women who physically labor day in and day out to earn a living. It ain't no joke.
You many not have surmised from that little rant that I'm sore as hell. But, my house has never looked so good. As a reward for all of our hard work, the hubby and I are celebrating with steak and grilled corn. Healthy and yummy. What a great combination.
My laundry is done. Snacks are packed for tomorrow. The workout is planned and I already know what I'm wearing to work. All that's left for me to do tonight is to kick back, relax and feel good about all that we accomplished this weekend.
Yay US!
Cheers!
Margaret
Who would have ever thought that an entire weekend of "spring cleaning" would leave you feeling like you'd just ran a marathon and competed in a bench press contest with the Arnold all in the same day? I swear if I wasn't so lazy, I'd go out and get some kind of construction or manual labor job because that shit will keep you in shape! My hat is off to the men and women who physically labor day in and day out to earn a living. It ain't no joke.
You many not have surmised from that little rant that I'm sore as hell. But, my house has never looked so good. As a reward for all of our hard work, the hubby and I are celebrating with steak and grilled corn. Healthy and yummy. What a great combination.
My laundry is done. Snacks are packed for tomorrow. The workout is planned and I already know what I'm wearing to work. All that's left for me to do tonight is to kick back, relax and feel good about all that we accomplished this weekend.
Yay US!
Cheers!
Margaret
Friday, May 21, 2010
You Don't "seem" Old
Day 141
So... last night I went bowling with some of my work peeps. It was a seriously good time. No.. really! It was. Perhaps I'm romanticizing the evening because the teenage son of one of my coworkers remarked after a comment I made about being the oldest in our group, "Really? you don't seem old". Teenagers think all adults are old so I consider this high praise!
The truth is that lately I don't feel old either. For a while there i was feeling pretty old. Shedding a little weight can do a lot for your self image. But, a little exercise does a LOT for your energy levels. I used to get home on Friday night and pray that we would just decide to stay home and watch tv. My husband would say let's go camping and I would think "jeez I hate the idea of packing up all of our crap."
Now, I look forward to doing these things. If someone asks me to do something I no longer face it with dread and lethargic apathy. I'm excited and eager to get out anyd enjoy the world. If you think that getting healthy is a waste of time, let me assure you it's not. I've never felt better in my entire life!
I read on facebook tonight that some of our friends are doing a 5k tomorrow at the Streets of Indian Lake. My first thought was... I should get up in the morning and go walk that. The old Margaret would have said "better them than me."
No one ever said "damn, I wish I hadn't exercised today."
Plenty of people have said and will say "damn, I really need to get off my ass."
Which will you choose?
Cheers!
Margaret
So... last night I went bowling with some of my work peeps. It was a seriously good time. No.. really! It was. Perhaps I'm romanticizing the evening because the teenage son of one of my coworkers remarked after a comment I made about being the oldest in our group, "Really? you don't seem old". Teenagers think all adults are old so I consider this high praise!
The truth is that lately I don't feel old either. For a while there i was feeling pretty old. Shedding a little weight can do a lot for your self image. But, a little exercise does a LOT for your energy levels. I used to get home on Friday night and pray that we would just decide to stay home and watch tv. My husband would say let's go camping and I would think "jeez I hate the idea of packing up all of our crap."
Now, I look forward to doing these things. If someone asks me to do something I no longer face it with dread and lethargic apathy. I'm excited and eager to get out anyd enjoy the world. If you think that getting healthy is a waste of time, let me assure you it's not. I've never felt better in my entire life!
I read on facebook tonight that some of our friends are doing a 5k tomorrow at the Streets of Indian Lake. My first thought was... I should get up in the morning and go walk that. The old Margaret would have said "better them than me."
No one ever said "damn, I wish I hadn't exercised today."
Plenty of people have said and will say "damn, I really need to get off my ass."
Which will you choose?
Cheers!
Margaret
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Fail to Plan.. Plan to Fail
Day 139
It's going to be a busy next several days so I've done myself a favor. I've planned all of my work outs through next Saturday. This should help me stay on track. Now... all I have to do is lace up my shoes and get to it!
Today was a long day. I didn't eat as well as I could have. I'm still struggling a little with keeping my eating clean. I'm working on it though. I know that most of it is emotional / stress choices yet despite knowing this and being aware of it, I'm still faltering from time to time. I can trace this back to not bringing snacks with me to work. I'm eating breakfast. But, I'm missing my morning and afternoon snacks. This lack of planning is hurting me. I'll be tackling this issue next.
Cheers!
Margaret
It's going to be a busy next several days so I've done myself a favor. I've planned all of my work outs through next Saturday. This should help me stay on track. Now... all I have to do is lace up my shoes and get to it!
Today was a long day. I didn't eat as well as I could have. I'm still struggling a little with keeping my eating clean. I'm working on it though. I know that most of it is emotional / stress choices yet despite knowing this and being aware of it, I'm still faltering from time to time. I can trace this back to not bringing snacks with me to work. I'm eating breakfast. But, I'm missing my morning and afternoon snacks. This lack of planning is hurting me. I'll be tackling this issue next.
Cheers!
Margaret
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Boom! Boom! POW!
Day 138
Lately, I've been jackin my own swagger. But, Boom! Boom! Pow! I'm on that next tip now! (yes... I changed the lyrics. Sue me!)
Margar is BACK! Over the past several days I've been slowly working my way back from the abyss. Tonight's workout was the final missing piece of the puzzle. It felt good to work up a sweat and it was gratifying to discover that my two weeks away from the home gym didn't hurt me too much.
I've shed the shackles of my shame and replaced them with wings of triumph. It feels good to be back in the swing of things. I'm not sweating the lapse. It happens to the best of us and is part of life.
Tomorrow it's back to the "dread"mill. I'm mildly terrified. But, it will be what it will be.
Cheers!
Margaret
Lately, I've been jackin my own swagger. But, Boom! Boom! Pow! I'm on that next tip now! (yes... I changed the lyrics. Sue me!)
Margar is BACK! Over the past several days I've been slowly working my way back from the abyss. Tonight's workout was the final missing piece of the puzzle. It felt good to work up a sweat and it was gratifying to discover that my two weeks away from the home gym didn't hurt me too much.
I've shed the shackles of my shame and replaced them with wings of triumph. It feels good to be back in the swing of things. I'm not sweating the lapse. It happens to the best of us and is part of life.
Tomorrow it's back to the "dread"mill. I'm mildly terrified. But, it will be what it will be.
Cheers!
Margaret
Monday, May 17, 2010
New Opportunities
Day 137
There's an obscure line in the movie Vanilla Sky (which on the whole is a terrible movie) where Penelope Cruz says, "Each passing moment is an opportunity for a new beginning." That's always stuck with me. If I've mentioned this before, forgive me. I'm getting a little long in the tooth at 42.75 and my memory ain't what it used to be.
Each morning we wake up with a choice in terms of how we're going to greet the day. Most who know me will tell you that I greet most days grumpily. I'm not a morning person. It takes me a while to get used to the idea of dealing with other people. I like to be alone with my thoughts when I first wake up. Is that so wrong?
Sorry... I got off on a tangent there... What was the point I was trying to make? Oh yes... choices. How we choose to meet the day's challenges are completely up to us. As a rule, Mondays can be quite frustrating. This Monday was no different than any other. However, the way I chose to deal with unrealistic deadlines, annoying people and a growing "To Do" list was a bit different. I chose to smile and laugh my way through it. I chose not to abandon the good habits that are designed to help me make it through the day.
I had my moments when frustration got the better of me. (sometimes I say things I shouldn't) But, at the end of it all, I can say that I faced my challenges without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms like emotional eating. I got a lot done and I choose to focus on what I did accomplish rather than what's left.
Tomorrow is a new day and with it comes infinite possibilities.
Cheers!
Margaret
There's an obscure line in the movie Vanilla Sky (which on the whole is a terrible movie) where Penelope Cruz says, "Each passing moment is an opportunity for a new beginning." That's always stuck with me. If I've mentioned this before, forgive me. I'm getting a little long in the tooth at 42.75 and my memory ain't what it used to be.
Each morning we wake up with a choice in terms of how we're going to greet the day. Most who know me will tell you that I greet most days grumpily. I'm not a morning person. It takes me a while to get used to the idea of dealing with other people. I like to be alone with my thoughts when I first wake up. Is that so wrong?
Sorry... I got off on a tangent there... What was the point I was trying to make? Oh yes... choices. How we choose to meet the day's challenges are completely up to us. As a rule, Mondays can be quite frustrating. This Monday was no different than any other. However, the way I chose to deal with unrealistic deadlines, annoying people and a growing "To Do" list was a bit different. I chose to smile and laugh my way through it. I chose not to abandon the good habits that are designed to help me make it through the day.
I had my moments when frustration got the better of me. (sometimes I say things I shouldn't) But, at the end of it all, I can say that I faced my challenges without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms like emotional eating. I got a lot done and I choose to focus on what I did accomplish rather than what's left.
Tomorrow is a new day and with it comes infinite possibilities.
Cheers!
Margaret
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Act of Defiance
Day 136
I've drawn a line in the sand that says NO MORE! Today, I purged my closet by getting rid of every piece of size 22 clothing I own. It's all too big and I'm shouting to the universe NEVER AGAIN! I will never ever ever ever ever be that size again.
I feel empowered by it. Re-energized even. Unfortunately, most of the clothes I own that are smaller tend to be a little dated. Not 1985 dated... but, definitely circa 2005 and earlier. Oh well. It's just one more excuse to go shopping right? I'm actually beginning to enjoy shopping. Yesterday, I bought a new dress and a new shirt both of which are a size 14/16 thank you very much. I can't wait for the day when I can leave the plus sizes behind. But, for now, I'll settle for being a little less giant when I'm shopping at The Giant... I mean Lane Bryant.
We are spring cleaning at my house this weekend and I'm purging everything that doesn't have a place or a use. If I haven't seen it for two years why bother keeping it? The coolest people we know are coming to visit Memorial Day weekend and we intend for the accomodations at Casa de Angell to be 4 Diamond! Plus, one of them is a little OCD and we've got to make certain that they meet Mr. Cups' white glove treatment. (Just kidding. You know I love you man).
Last night we went to a party at my former employer and good friend Mark Oldham's house. He and his wife both turned 50 this year and they threw a huge shindig to celebrate 100 years of living. What an awesome concept. And, let me tell you, these folks know how to throw a party. It was a great time. Normally, I go to these kinds of things completely wigged out by my appearance. I stress over it to the point that I start sweating and get extra grumpy. Anyway, when we arrived I was genuinely happy to see folks that I haven't seen in a long time. I felt good and I knew I looked my best for where I am in my journey. That confidence truly enabled me to enjoy myself in a way that I can't usually achieve. I even get party anxiety around my best friends because I'm always obsessing about how fat I am.
Many of the folks I got to see also read this blog. I want to give them a special shout out because it's so motivating to me when I hear "I read your blog all the time." That accountability is a key factor in my success thus far. You all don't know just how much you help me. I love you guys. Thanks!
Ok, I'm off to throw away some more junk.
Cheers!
Margaret
I've drawn a line in the sand that says NO MORE! Today, I purged my closet by getting rid of every piece of size 22 clothing I own. It's all too big and I'm shouting to the universe NEVER AGAIN! I will never ever ever ever ever be that size again.
I feel empowered by it. Re-energized even. Unfortunately, most of the clothes I own that are smaller tend to be a little dated. Not 1985 dated... but, definitely circa 2005 and earlier. Oh well. It's just one more excuse to go shopping right? I'm actually beginning to enjoy shopping. Yesterday, I bought a new dress and a new shirt both of which are a size 14/16 thank you very much. I can't wait for the day when I can leave the plus sizes behind. But, for now, I'll settle for being a little less giant when I'm shopping at The Giant... I mean Lane Bryant.
We are spring cleaning at my house this weekend and I'm purging everything that doesn't have a place or a use. If I haven't seen it for two years why bother keeping it? The coolest people we know are coming to visit Memorial Day weekend and we intend for the accomodations at Casa de Angell to be 4 Diamond! Plus, one of them is a little OCD and we've got to make certain that they meet Mr. Cups' white glove treatment. (Just kidding. You know I love you man).
Last night we went to a party at my former employer and good friend Mark Oldham's house. He and his wife both turned 50 this year and they threw a huge shindig to celebrate 100 years of living. What an awesome concept. And, let me tell you, these folks know how to throw a party. It was a great time. Normally, I go to these kinds of things completely wigged out by my appearance. I stress over it to the point that I start sweating and get extra grumpy. Anyway, when we arrived I was genuinely happy to see folks that I haven't seen in a long time. I felt good and I knew I looked my best for where I am in my journey. That confidence truly enabled me to enjoy myself in a way that I can't usually achieve. I even get party anxiety around my best friends because I'm always obsessing about how fat I am.
Many of the folks I got to see also read this blog. I want to give them a special shout out because it's so motivating to me when I hear "I read your blog all the time." That accountability is a key factor in my success thus far. You all don't know just how much you help me. I love you guys. Thanks!
Ok, I'm off to throw away some more junk.
Cheers!
Margaret
Friday, May 14, 2010
TGIF
Day 134
Man oh man am I happy to see this work week come to a close. It's been a gray hair creatin nightmare! But, here I sit on Friday night without a care in the world! ... Unless of course you count the fact that I have research to do for a meeting, an article to write, laundry to fold and put away, laundry to do, a kitchen to put back together, spring cleaning and ... the list goes on and on.
oh yeah find some time to exercise and sleep in there somewhere! Even with all of this crap going on, I find myself in a particularly chipper mood this evening. I have decided to recommit to this whole one year to one hundred pounds thing... I can admit that I've fallen off the proverbial wagon to a degree. But, I'm no worse for wear.
I've procastinated and wallowed in my own muck for a couple of weeks now. I've made excuses... I've come clean... I've made some more excuses and I've pondered my own existence. Then, this morning I got up and put on one of my favorite dresses from last spring and it's too damn big. I wore it anyway. But, it's too damn big.
Did I mention it's too damn big? If that's not reason enough to get excited about my progress and kick this sucker up a notch I don't know what is! AND... it's just in time for me to put my pantry back together. My kitchen got a new coat of paint this week and as soon as the pantry walls dry, I'll be stocking the shelves again. But, it will be sans the junk that has found it's way back in there.
To celebrate, I believe I'm going to have myself some Greek Yogurt as a snack.
Cheers and Happy FRIDAY!
Margaret
Man oh man am I happy to see this work week come to a close. It's been a gray hair creatin nightmare! But, here I sit on Friday night without a care in the world! ... Unless of course you count the fact that I have research to do for a meeting, an article to write, laundry to fold and put away, laundry to do, a kitchen to put back together, spring cleaning and ... the list goes on and on.
oh yeah find some time to exercise and sleep in there somewhere! Even with all of this crap going on, I find myself in a particularly chipper mood this evening. I have decided to recommit to this whole one year to one hundred pounds thing... I can admit that I've fallen off the proverbial wagon to a degree. But, I'm no worse for wear.
I've procastinated and wallowed in my own muck for a couple of weeks now. I've made excuses... I've come clean... I've made some more excuses and I've pondered my own existence. Then, this morning I got up and put on one of my favorite dresses from last spring and it's too damn big. I wore it anyway. But, it's too damn big.
Did I mention it's too damn big? If that's not reason enough to get excited about my progress and kick this sucker up a notch I don't know what is! AND... it's just in time for me to put my pantry back together. My kitchen got a new coat of paint this week and as soon as the pantry walls dry, I'll be stocking the shelves again. But, it will be sans the junk that has found it's way back in there.
To celebrate, I believe I'm going to have myself some Greek Yogurt as a snack.
Cheers and Happy FRIDAY!
Margaret
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bad Decisions
Day 132
I'm convinced that Diet Soda leads to more bad decisions than a few shots of Patròn ever could.
Ever since I began slowly letting the Diet Coke back into my daily life, I find myself craving things that I did not previously crave. In fact, when I was off the "sauce", I could easily say "no" to unhealthy processed junk and barely give it a second thought. Now that I've picked up my daily Diet Coke habit where I left it in December, I find myself craving all of these things. I know that my experience isn't exactly science. But, it's real.
If you don't want to take my word for it. Below is what the experts have to say...
David Ludwig, MD, PhD, recently published a commentary in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) expressing concern about the widespread use of artificial sweeteners in soft drinks. He offers some insight about why we humans naturally crave sweetness and the potential danger of confusing our ancient biological pathways of hunger and satiation with fake sugars.
He asserts that consumption of sugars in their natural forms is generally not harmful. Problems arise when sugars are refined, concentrated and added to the food supply in massive amounts. Sugar-sweetened beverages merit special mention, because sugar in liquid form seems to escape notice by the body’s calorie-detecting apparatus.
Modern science, which gave us refined sugars like high fructose corn syrup, has proposed a novel solution to the obesity epidemic: artificial sweeteners. These compounds stimulate taste receptors at hundreds to thousands of times the potency of natural sugars, producing intense sweetness at trace concentrations. With growing attention to the adverse effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, consumption of artificial-sweetened beverages has increased dramatically. In fact, some industry analysts predict that sales of “diet” drinks could eventually exceed those of sugar-sweetened beverages.
A recent study found that rodents fed the artificial sweetener saccharin lost the ability to accurately regulate calorie intake and gained weight. Studies have also linked artificially sweetened beverage consumption to higher risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Consider me convinced. I'm getting back on the wagon. I'll let you know how it goes.
Cheers!
Margaret
I'm convinced that Diet Soda leads to more bad decisions than a few shots of Patròn ever could.
Ever since I began slowly letting the Diet Coke back into my daily life, I find myself craving things that I did not previously crave. In fact, when I was off the "sauce", I could easily say "no" to unhealthy processed junk and barely give it a second thought. Now that I've picked up my daily Diet Coke habit where I left it in December, I find myself craving all of these things. I know that my experience isn't exactly science. But, it's real.
If you don't want to take my word for it. Below is what the experts have to say...
David Ludwig, MD, PhD, recently published a commentary in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) expressing concern about the widespread use of artificial sweeteners in soft drinks. He offers some insight about why we humans naturally crave sweetness and the potential danger of confusing our ancient biological pathways of hunger and satiation with fake sugars.
He asserts that consumption of sugars in their natural forms is generally not harmful. Problems arise when sugars are refined, concentrated and added to the food supply in massive amounts. Sugar-sweetened beverages merit special mention, because sugar in liquid form seems to escape notice by the body’s calorie-detecting apparatus.
Modern science, which gave us refined sugars like high fructose corn syrup, has proposed a novel solution to the obesity epidemic: artificial sweeteners. These compounds stimulate taste receptors at hundreds to thousands of times the potency of natural sugars, producing intense sweetness at trace concentrations. With growing attention to the adverse effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, consumption of artificial-sweetened beverages has increased dramatically. In fact, some industry analysts predict that sales of “diet” drinks could eventually exceed those of sugar-sweetened beverages.
A recent study found that rodents fed the artificial sweetener saccharin lost the ability to accurately regulate calorie intake and gained weight. Studies have also linked artificially sweetened beverage consumption to higher risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Consider me convinced. I'm getting back on the wagon. I'll let you know how it goes.
Cheers!
Margaret
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Betty White Syndrome
Day 131
Betty White gets around really well for 88 1/2. But a 42 year old who moves like Betty White is just sad. I have still not recovered from my weekend of hard labor. My Hamstrings and Glutes continue to scream every time I sit or stand. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be back to normal.
My Eating is still not clean. But, it is clean...errrr. My water intake was way way up today. I'm moving forward and that is a good thing. Tomorrow's goal is NO DIET COKE!
Cross Your Fingers. I gotta get that monkey off my back.
Cheers!
Margaret
Betty White gets around really well for 88 1/2. But a 42 year old who moves like Betty White is just sad. I have still not recovered from my weekend of hard labor. My Hamstrings and Glutes continue to scream every time I sit or stand. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll be back to normal.
My Eating is still not clean. But, it is clean...errrr. My water intake was way way up today. I'm moving forward and that is a good thing. Tomorrow's goal is NO DIET COKE!
Cross Your Fingers. I gotta get that monkey off my back.
Cheers!
Margaret
Monday, May 10, 2010
Spring "Clean"ing
Day 130
Today's post is all about coming clean. These last 30 days have been less than stellar. It all started with the purchase of a new scale. If you thought I hated my last scale, it doesn't come close to the disdain I felt when I first stepped on this one and it told me that I weighed TEN POUNDS more than my old scale. Instead of weighing 227, I weighed 237!!! Pissed off doesn't even come close to how it made me feel.
No matter how you look at it, it's bad. It means that on January 1 when I thought I weighed 249 lbs, I probably really weighed... I can't even type the number. It makes me sick to think about it. It's depressing on so many levels. I just couldn't wrap my brain around it. I've felt like a fraud ever since. Day after day it's been getting to me more and more.
I kept exercising and eating well, but I couldn't get the scale to budge. I thought to myself that if eating clean wasn't working then why work so hard? Little by little some of the junk crept back into my eating habits. First came the Diet Coke, which lead to chips with a sandwich, which led to dessert here and there. Free Day became free weekend and so on.
I picked up two pounds somewhere along the way and hit 239. Then last week I dropped them and went back to 237. This weekend I spent two days doing manual labor helping our friends who lost their home to the flood and dropped 5. This morning I weighed 233. But, to be honest, I don't expect it to hold. It'll probably level out at 235.
Needless to say, it's time for me to do a little spring cleaning. I started by going shopping after work and filling my fridge with the healthy foods that my body really needs. Then I sat down to write this post. Now, I've come clean to all of you.
Tomorrow I'll post an official weight and measurements. Despite my scale issues, I have lost inches. Go figure.
Cheers!
Margaret
Today's post is all about coming clean. These last 30 days have been less than stellar. It all started with the purchase of a new scale. If you thought I hated my last scale, it doesn't come close to the disdain I felt when I first stepped on this one and it told me that I weighed TEN POUNDS more than my old scale. Instead of weighing 227, I weighed 237!!! Pissed off doesn't even come close to how it made me feel.
No matter how you look at it, it's bad. It means that on January 1 when I thought I weighed 249 lbs, I probably really weighed... I can't even type the number. It makes me sick to think about it. It's depressing on so many levels. I just couldn't wrap my brain around it. I've felt like a fraud ever since. Day after day it's been getting to me more and more.
I kept exercising and eating well, but I couldn't get the scale to budge. I thought to myself that if eating clean wasn't working then why work so hard? Little by little some of the junk crept back into my eating habits. First came the Diet Coke, which lead to chips with a sandwich, which led to dessert here and there. Free Day became free weekend and so on.
I picked up two pounds somewhere along the way and hit 239. Then last week I dropped them and went back to 237. This weekend I spent two days doing manual labor helping our friends who lost their home to the flood and dropped 5. This morning I weighed 233. But, to be honest, I don't expect it to hold. It'll probably level out at 235.
Needless to say, it's time for me to do a little spring cleaning. I started by going shopping after work and filling my fridge with the healthy foods that my body really needs. Then I sat down to write this post. Now, I've come clean to all of you.
Tomorrow I'll post an official weight and measurements. Despite my scale issues, I have lost inches. Go figure.
Cheers!
Margaret
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Freebies
Day 126
I ate lunch in the office today but decided that I desperately needed to get out of the building for a while. I pulled out of the parking lot without a clue as to where I was going.
Hmmmm... what to do... what to do...
I could head down to Starbucks for a Mocha Latte.
Nah... too much sugar.
I wondered which was worse Mocha Latte or Vanilla Cone from McDonalds... Oooh Yes... McDonalds.
But, right before it was time to get into the turn lane I came to my senses and whipped back around the block. I knew I needed a snack though. Otherwise, I knew I would be doomed to hit the vending machine later.
My Final destination was The Apple Market. My snack of choice ended up being an apple, a liter of water and a piece of string cheese. My out of the way trek also garnered me a free roll of paper towels. How fortuitous that I happened upon the Apple Market today. What's not to love about freebies!
Cheers!
Margaret
I ate lunch in the office today but decided that I desperately needed to get out of the building for a while. I pulled out of the parking lot without a clue as to where I was going.
Hmmmm... what to do... what to do...
I could head down to Starbucks for a Mocha Latte.
Nah... too much sugar.
I wondered which was worse Mocha Latte or Vanilla Cone from McDonalds... Oooh Yes... McDonalds.
But, right before it was time to get into the turn lane I came to my senses and whipped back around the block. I knew I needed a snack though. Otherwise, I knew I would be doomed to hit the vending machine later.
My Final destination was The Apple Market. My snack of choice ended up being an apple, a liter of water and a piece of string cheese. My out of the way trek also garnered me a free roll of paper towels. How fortuitous that I happened upon the Apple Market today. What's not to love about freebies!
Cheers!
Margaret
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
The Nashville I know
Day 125
Let's get the weight loss stuff out of the way first... I lost 2 lbs! whoo hoo. I've been stagnant for weeks. I'm pretty stoked about this.
Now on to the real topic of tonight's post.
My Town
Music City... Athens of the South...
I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. I've always been proud to call this place home. It's heartbreaking to drive down the street and see your town in ruins. It's frustrating to see that our plight has received little national attention.
The Nashville I know is an eclectic mix of southern charm and intellect. It's a place where business acumen, scientific achievement, artistic license and musical prowess mix and mingle on the regular.
At Arnolds on 8th Avenue I can sit elbow to elbow with blue collars to my left, white collars to my right and the chief of police across from me. All of us will be enjoying some of the best southern comfort food available in town.
Later that day I could be standing in line at the movie theatre and swap pleasantries with Keith and Nicole. After the movie, I can head downtown to enjoy anything from a good timin honky tonk to hard hitting professional hockey to a play at TPAC to world class symphony.
The point is that Nashville has something for everyone. The sad thing is that today a lot of it is under water. But, this town and it's people are tough. We are resilient. Nashville is open for business. Come see us. But, bring your work gloves. You may have to help us clean up a little mud before we sit down to break bread.
Cheers!
Margaret
Let's get the weight loss stuff out of the way first... I lost 2 lbs! whoo hoo. I've been stagnant for weeks. I'm pretty stoked about this.
Now on to the real topic of tonight's post.
My Town
Music City... Athens of the South...
I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. I've always been proud to call this place home. It's heartbreaking to drive down the street and see your town in ruins. It's frustrating to see that our plight has received little national attention.
The Nashville I know is an eclectic mix of southern charm and intellect. It's a place where business acumen, scientific achievement, artistic license and musical prowess mix and mingle on the regular.
At Arnolds on 8th Avenue I can sit elbow to elbow with blue collars to my left, white collars to my right and the chief of police across from me. All of us will be enjoying some of the best southern comfort food available in town.
Later that day I could be standing in line at the movie theatre and swap pleasantries with Keith and Nicole. After the movie, I can head downtown to enjoy anything from a good timin honky tonk to hard hitting professional hockey to a play at TPAC to world class symphony.
The point is that Nashville has something for everyone. The sad thing is that today a lot of it is under water. But, this town and it's people are tough. We are resilient. Nashville is open for business. Come see us. But, bring your work gloves. You may have to help us clean up a little mud before we sit down to break bread.
Cheers!
Margaret
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Bright Side
Day 124
When all else fails, look at the bright side. It took me 2.5 hours to get to work today. I was NOT happy about this. However, I WAS happy to be wearing a pair of my favorite pant that haven't slid over my hips in 4 years.
I was NOT happy to sit in gridlock on Long Hollow Pike for so long this morning. However, I WAS happy to be sitting in my new car.
I was NOT happy about all the crap I got pummeled with right when I walked in the door this morning including having to wait almost an hour for IT to show up and fix my laptop which was the only reason I made the trek into the office in the first place. However, having a couple of drinks with my good friend Larry after work made me VERY happy.
It does NOT make me happy at all to know that our good friends Mark and Kimberly have lost everything. Their home is a total loss. However, I am grateful that they are safe and it will be my honor to help them in any way I can.
Remember... there's always at least one person out there who's got it worse than you.
Remember... if you look hard enough, there's always a bright side to be found.
Cheers!
Margaret
When all else fails, look at the bright side. It took me 2.5 hours to get to work today. I was NOT happy about this. However, I WAS happy to be wearing a pair of my favorite pant that haven't slid over my hips in 4 years.
I was NOT happy to sit in gridlock on Long Hollow Pike for so long this morning. However, I WAS happy to be sitting in my new car.
I was NOT happy about all the crap I got pummeled with right when I walked in the door this morning including having to wait almost an hour for IT to show up and fix my laptop which was the only reason I made the trek into the office in the first place. However, having a couple of drinks with my good friend Larry after work made me VERY happy.
It does NOT make me happy at all to know that our good friends Mark and Kimberly have lost everything. Their home is a total loss. However, I am grateful that they are safe and it will be my honor to help them in any way I can.
Remember... there's always at least one person out there who's got it worse than you.
Remember... if you look hard enough, there's always a bright side to be found.
Cheers!
Margaret
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday Blahs
Day 123
I really need to get back to some kind of structure and normalcy. I am completely unmotivated and lethargic and bummed. All of these flood images are just making it worse. I can't seem to get my crap together.
I'm not going to dwell on what I can't change. I just wanted to acknowledge that I'm struggling today. Any reasons I might offer up would sound suspiciously like excuses because that's exactly what they are. But, it's true, I've had "The blahs" today. I took a two hour nap this afternoon, which made me feel a bit better.
Everything in my home seems to be out of kilter. We've had a guy in here painting and two of my bedrooms are all junked up. The laundry room hasn't been put back together. I can't wash clothes because we had to turn the power off in there in order to make the busted sump pump turn off. Ants have come in as a result of all of this rain. It's hard to get around town because of all the flooding. I can't get connected to the internet on my work pc nor can I vpn into our network. I've been snacking on crap that I know better than to eat. It's total chaos and it's freaking me out a bit. Naturally, a nap seemed like a good idea.
High water is not going to keep me from getting back to my regular day to day activities tomorrow.
Cheers!
Margaret
I really need to get back to some kind of structure and normalcy. I am completely unmotivated and lethargic and bummed. All of these flood images are just making it worse. I can't seem to get my crap together.
I'm not going to dwell on what I can't change. I just wanted to acknowledge that I'm struggling today. Any reasons I might offer up would sound suspiciously like excuses because that's exactly what they are. But, it's true, I've had "The blahs" today. I took a two hour nap this afternoon, which made me feel a bit better.
Everything in my home seems to be out of kilter. We've had a guy in here painting and two of my bedrooms are all junked up. The laundry room hasn't been put back together. I can't wash clothes because we had to turn the power off in there in order to make the busted sump pump turn off. Ants have come in as a result of all of this rain. It's hard to get around town because of all the flooding. I can't get connected to the internet on my work pc nor can I vpn into our network. I've been snacking on crap that I know better than to eat. It's total chaos and it's freaking me out a bit. Naturally, a nap seemed like a good idea.
High water is not going to keep me from getting back to my regular day to day activities tomorrow.
Cheers!
Margaret
Sunday, May 2, 2010
More Flood Photos
Day 122 Continued...
More flood pictures below. These are all from Hendersonville area around our home. Thanks to Dana Hannah who posted these on Facebook.
More flood pictures below. These are all from Hendersonville area around our home. Thanks to Dana Hannah who posted these on Facebook.
Bluegrass Country Club Golf Course. This backs up to our subdivision.
Another View of Bluegrass Country Club
Creekwood Marina on Old Hickory Lake
Drakes Creek Park at Indian Lake Road Entrance
Old Hickory Lake crosses Gallatin road in Hendersonville
Time to Build an Ark
Day 122
Today's post is not going to be weight loss related. Heavy rains continue to pound Tennessee. Many areas of Nashville have been pounded with up to 18" of rain.
The Angell Compound has only sustained some minor roof damage, a bit of flooding in our crawl space and most recently we discovered water filling up our AC duct work. We have reinforcements coming to help us pump it out as our sump pump died last night. If this is the worst thing we have to deal with, I'll consider myself lucky.
Please pray for the folks below who are facing much worse challenges than we are. Below are some images from the flood. This really is serious.
Today's post is not going to be weight loss related. Heavy rains continue to pound Tennessee. Many areas of Nashville have been pounded with up to 18" of rain.
The Angell Compound has only sustained some minor roof damage, a bit of flooding in our crawl space and most recently we discovered water filling up our AC duct work. We have reinforcements coming to help us pump it out as our sump pump died last night. If this is the worst thing we have to deal with, I'll consider myself lucky.
Please pray for the folks below who are facing much worse challenges than we are. Below are some images from the flood. This really is serious.
Stop 30 Farm
Stop 30 Farm
Haywood Lane Area
Haywood Lane Area
I-24
I-24
My Friend Jamie's Business in Jackson, TN
Inside Weekly Pay Auto Sales in Jackson
Garage Bays inside Weekly Pay Auto Sales
Gerry's Backyard in Nashville
Another view of Gerry's Backyard
More of Gerry's Backyard
Keri B's Backyard
The view from keri B's deck. Wow!
The water under our house.
Our Pump Strategy is beginning to work. Whew!
Then we found this. We opened up the Return in our hallway and removed the Air filter to find that water had made it's way into our duct work. Who knows what kind of damage this has caused.
Still... if you look at all of the other pics I posted, we consider ourselves lucky.
If anyone in our area needs help or a place to stay, please reach out. we have food, electricity, tv, hot showers, dry clothes and warm beds waiting for you.
Cheers!
Margaret
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Perseverance
Day 121,
I'm finally home from my 5 day trek north and I couldn't be happier except that it took me pretty much all day today to recover. I'm proud of how I fared in Maine. I ate fairly well and I exercised each day. I won't miss the cold or the bed of nails at the Caribou Inn. But, I will miss the gym at the hotel. I suppose I can live with my treadmill and free weights. :)
Tonight I'm thinking about a friend of mine "T". She will be traveling the entire month of May and is a bit worried about how she'll manage to eat well and exercise. To me, I feel like the exercise is almost the easy part. What's not easy is eating out at every single meal. Even the best laid plans can be thwarted when you're lonely and bored or with a bunch of people who want to cut loose after a long day. The temptations of the vending machine and the hotel bar can be a bit overwhelming at times.
For me, perfection would be impossible. I'm a hedonist from way back and temptation seems to be my middle name at times. Moderation is my mantra. I don't tell myself that I "can't" have any thing. But, I do tell myself that I have to set limits. It's so easy to get off track and head down familiar paths. And, once you stray it can be difficult to get back on track. There's a tendency to beat yourself up and throw in the towel. I've been there more times than I can count.
Looking back over the past couple of weeks, I've stumbled a few times. I haven't lost any weight in several weeks and I can point to poor eating habits as a result. I've been exercising harder than ever before. But, I seem to be struggling with the whole nutrition thing. But, I press on because this is a marathon and not a race.
I'm listening to my own advice and I'm not going to beat myself up for (or dwell on) my mistakes. It hasn't all been time wasted. I'm stronger than ever before and I'm getting stronger every day. I am however re-committing myself to laying off the processed stuff and sugar. They really are the devil. The more of it you eat, the more of it you want.
I can't wait to plan and prepare my meals for the week. I've already been culling through my recipe books for some yummy recipes to kickstart my week.
Cheers!
Margaret
I'm finally home from my 5 day trek north and I couldn't be happier except that it took me pretty much all day today to recover. I'm proud of how I fared in Maine. I ate fairly well and I exercised each day. I won't miss the cold or the bed of nails at the Caribou Inn. But, I will miss the gym at the hotel. I suppose I can live with my treadmill and free weights. :)
Tonight I'm thinking about a friend of mine "T". She will be traveling the entire month of May and is a bit worried about how she'll manage to eat well and exercise. To me, I feel like the exercise is almost the easy part. What's not easy is eating out at every single meal. Even the best laid plans can be thwarted when you're lonely and bored or with a bunch of people who want to cut loose after a long day. The temptations of the vending machine and the hotel bar can be a bit overwhelming at times.
For me, perfection would be impossible. I'm a hedonist from way back and temptation seems to be my middle name at times. Moderation is my mantra. I don't tell myself that I "can't" have any thing. But, I do tell myself that I have to set limits. It's so easy to get off track and head down familiar paths. And, once you stray it can be difficult to get back on track. There's a tendency to beat yourself up and throw in the towel. I've been there more times than I can count.
Looking back over the past couple of weeks, I've stumbled a few times. I haven't lost any weight in several weeks and I can point to poor eating habits as a result. I've been exercising harder than ever before. But, I seem to be struggling with the whole nutrition thing. But, I press on because this is a marathon and not a race.
I'm listening to my own advice and I'm not going to beat myself up for (or dwell on) my mistakes. It hasn't all been time wasted. I'm stronger than ever before and I'm getting stronger every day. I am however re-committing myself to laying off the processed stuff and sugar. They really are the devil. The more of it you eat, the more of it you want.
I can't wait to plan and prepare my meals for the week. I've already been culling through my recipe books for some yummy recipes to kickstart my week.
Cheers!
Margaret
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