Holiday checkin

Well, here I am. Trying, like the rest of us, to not only survive, but THRIVE over the holiday season.

(I gained 1.5 pounds the week after I got to my 80 lb. mini-goal, possibly due to water weight, but I've lost that again and am back down to 156.5.)

After we all posted our challenges, I felt pretty silly. Maintenance? That's not very exciting! But considering how much most people gain during these six or so weeks, I guess maintenance is pretty important.

Now for my strategy.

1. I'm wearing my, um, tightest pants. Yes, they fit. Just. I picked up a pair of size 10 (size 10!) Liz Claiborne (Liz Claiborne!) pants at the Goodwill about a month back for $4.50. ($4.50! Score!) They just barely fit, and I figure that if I wear them I'll be less likely to over eat.

2. I'm going to Cracker Barrel for lunch. Yes, I am. We're traveling to my MIL's in Georgia, and we can't leave until Thursday morning because I have to work Wednesday. We're stopping for lunch on the way. How is that a strategy, you ask? Simple. I don't have to cook, so I won't be snatching a bite here and there as I do. And I can't just get as much as I want on my plate, so my portions are (relatively) controlled. And, I won't have leftovers hanging around to tempt me.

That night when we get to GA, I can resist the leftovers that will be there, because of the superiority of my lunch meal.

(Oh, did I mention that my MIL, a naturally thin person, is not only very critical of people who are overweight, she also has not one stitch of healthy food around? And that I have to bring my own stash, down to a granola bar to take to breakfast because she eats at Popeye's every morning and there's not a healthy thing on the menu there?)

3. I'm going to be extra-special good on the other meals, so that I can enjoy smaller portions of the foods I only eat once a year when the time comes. Like yesterday, I had some Progresso Light soup for breakfast, because we had an office Thanksgiving lunch. I had a small portion of the hen and dressing for lunch, and loaded up on green beans, and bypassed the mac and cheese all together. And then for dinner, I had a cup of hot and sour soup, which is really better for you (minus the sodium) than you'd think.

I also have a strategy for on-the-road snacking - I pack a separate small cooler full of veggies. And we take individual bags of baked chips for when we want something salty or crunchy.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make myself a cup of green tea.

A Few Challenges

My weight is down another pound since Thursday. I'm really hoping I don't undo that. My first challenge was early last night. I remembered I had nothing to take along on my 12 mile training walk so I asked my husband to run out and get me some power bars and wheat thins. (I remembered another walker eating wheat thins on one of our walks.)

Well, having a box of "munchies" in the house presented a challenge and I think I had three or four unplanned handfuls of those. So, no more munchies for training walks. Either that or I need to have an individual serving package or something.

My next challenge this weekend is that I didn't go on my training walk because my 8 year old was up puking all night. Now I'm sitting here thinking I need to at least get a few miles in, but walking alone is easier to blow off than meeting with friends, and that's what I'm doing. I'm blowing it off minute by minute. I'm really having a tough time getting myself moving today. So, I'm going to get off the computer, read a bit of my book, which I just realized I've ignored for the last 2 days. (Need to work on consistency)

Now I'm going to spend a few minutes giving myself credit for what I have done well the last few days. I've made some really good food choices. I've been eating breakfast, whole grains, adding veggies and fruit, drinking plenty of water. I started my period and didn't binge once. I ended a plateau by losing weight last week, and some more over the last few days. I resisted those pink frosted sugar cookies that my mom had over at her house, even though I love those, even though I was really hungry, and I'm not sorry I didn't have them. In fact, I had completely rationalized that having one wouldn't be so bad. They are only 210 calories (per serving? Is giant cookie more than 1 serving? I didn't even look at that.) I'll eat a lighter lunch. Yada yada yada. But still, I recognized the rationalization for what it was and didn't have a cookie. I decluttered my closet and my dresser drawers so I have no more fat clothes, nor do I have any more clothes that are more than 1 size too small. When I get smaller it will be my joy and pleasure to buy more clothes!

Okay, that's it for today's coaching session. I'm off to do some reading and search for the motivation to get walking.

Jules checks in...

Hey crew! It is the morning after the resurrection, and I am feeling like a new year has begun in my life. I haven't been posting much because I have been caught in a whirlwind of homeschooling, birthdays (Reese in March, Riley in April), starting the new weight loss group at my home, my husband changing careers and just general craziness around the Paine home. My sister-in-law moved in with us almost 3 months ago and that has affected my life as well. Lots of emotional opportunities around here for me to get caught up in (and eat with). The good news is that I have maintained my weight loss with diligence. I have had to be really determined to watch myself. The bummer is I am still that 1.8 or 1.4 lbs away from breaking into the 150's. I have been hovering here now for a long time. I have had to focus so much on just the maintenance part of my weight loss (not getting caught up in the sorrow of other's lives or the celebrations) that I have not had the extra gumption to go anywhere beyond that. But that is all apart of life, I suppose.
I have been visiting the Y about 3 times a week, rarely missing my yoga class, but I know that my body needs more than this. I went on such a beautiful spring walk the other day with Mandi, I was inspired to keep the exercise factor up in my life. Kristina and Lisa and Amy are very inspirational in the workout side of life. Thanks, girls. And Jennifer, you are really an encouragement as far as the weight loss goes. Good for you, girl!
Well, that is about it. I am looking forward to the spring and summer. Ready to challenge myself and have fun with my family. I will try to post more often. Love to all.

(pictures are of me making Easter dinner for 19)
Jules

Living and doing much better...Thanks.

I had a GREAT day. Took care of myself in these ways:

1. Haircut
2. Chiropractor
3. Ate well: Calories: 1593
4. Took vitamins
5. Had two servings of Udo's Oil (Omega 3-6-9)
6. Drank 8 glasses of water (plus plan to have 2 cups of herbal tea before bed)
7. Worked out at the Y, 35 min. on elliptical, 15 min. on treadmill, stretching
8. Faced the truth with a morning weigh in. (stop the denial and the over exaggerated emotional worry)
9. Visualized myself in summer attire, realizing that I have time to make a difference in what size suit I buy in June.
10. Reminded myself that I am at point B, not point A where it all began...I have walked a long road and have not been zapped back to the past by small indiscretions.
11. Put on a heart of gratitude for the body God has given me.
12. Had a "kick butt" attitude at the Y while working out, jamming to Hall and Oats on my Ipod, feeling pretty and fit and proud of myself.
13. I journalled. Everything.
14. I read Oliver Twist to my kids today and had a great home school time with all 5 of them. I felt like I connected with them all.
15. I read all of your post comments and took them to heart and felt the love and support of you dear ones.
16. I ate sushi. Yum.
17. I carried on and on and on, posting way too much on my blog.
18. And I plan on kissing my husband and all my children goodnight and soaking in their love. Really feeling it, not just going through the routine, for we don't know what tomorrow might bring us, do we? We must live today, unfettered by the past and unburdened by the future.

Love to you all.
Jules