Gaining Strength at the Right Time

So here we are just a few days  - ok actually it all starts tomorrow for me - until all the calorie counting will be strained to its limit.  But let me first say I have ROCKED OUT THE LAST 10 DAYS!!!  Just finished posting my side bar numbers and after the yuck that was almost two weeks ago I didn't allow myself to wallow in self-pity, chocolate and potato chips - YAY!!

I must admit (and keep the record here) that I did two awesome things this past week and anyone that has struggled to lose large amounts of weight will understand the significance of both these achievments.  Last week my girlfriend gave me a small chocolate bar for Christmas.  Total calories 270 and it was divided into three parts.  So instead of my usual modis operandi - scarfing it down in one sitting - I took each piece and ate it over the course of three days. Yes dear blog it took me three days to eat one small chocolate bar - amazing!!  Last night I was eating my soup and salad for dinner and had the soup last.  By the time I was two thirds through the soup I had eaten enough.  Instead of finishing it off - lets face it there really was only about 4 or 5 spoonfuls left and why be wasteful.  Well I stopped - I listened to my tummy saying - NO MORE!!

I may not visit my other blog too much over the next few days - actually three very busy days ahead.  But as I read my dashboard and see how all my inspirational blogs are doing I know I must keep reading and gaining strength throughout this holiday.  I know we can do it and I look forward to getting to know everyone even more in the new year -- I just sense so much success with myself and all my blog inspirations - that's how I refer to you - not only friends but inspirations!!

Lets rock it out in 2010!!!

"note the low cal champagne"

Comparison Pictures

When I did my first side bar picture I was playing around and made it black and white (new program -- rookie user).  Anyway I remembered just now that I had a larger (albiet scarier) picture in this blog post - you have been warned.

Although when I compare them to today's picture now I can see the difference - I think I even look happier in the picture.

Geesh if anyone told me I would actually post a picture of me side view I would have called them crazy and now I have done it twice.  Brave new world.

The Payoff

Well its been an emotional couple of weeks, but through most of it I have maintained my calorie counts and done everything I could to make sure I am between 1600 and 1800 calories each day.  Some days are even less -- and there have been a few high days but NOTHING like I would have done before.

So my reward for being diligent -- another 5 pounds GONE!!!  Now I missed my weigh in last week so this is over a three week period but I am THRILLED!!! It might even be time to do a progress picture (I shudder each time I see the first one on my side bar).

Yesterday was a great example of how my brain is thinking in the correct directions (yes Alix its so frikken cool to think this way).  I called my mom and asked her if she wanted to go for breakfast.  She needed me to help her with her last Christmas stuff so I picked her up just before 9am and headed to Sears.  Now I haven't eaten yet and my body is letting me know.  By the time we finished with shopping and headed to the restaurant I was famished.  Thank goodness she choose the place she choose because three of the breakfast menu items had the full nutritional information on the menu  YAY!!!  I choose the 410 calorie breakfast and actually had a very light lunch much later in the afternoon.  I was craving some chocolate that my friend gave me for Christmas (calories listed thank you).  So I calculated what I could afford and broke off a 90 calorie piece of chocolate.  Just the perfect amount - to get rid of the craving but not send my calories into some strange stratosphere.

I thank all my inspirations for being here - I mean on your blogs.  I read as much as possible and gain strength from each and everyone that I read.  I am going to ride high on this latest loss and do my best to achieve my mini (no biggie if I don't) goal to be under 230 for 2010.

Tempting Treats??

This morning my radio station had the daily "Impossible Question"  "Only 28% of Canadians indulge in this Christmas Tradition - what is it?"  The answer drinking eggnog.  So as I turned up my nose and put myself in the 72% that don't indulge it got me to thinking.  Why don't I drink eggnog -- actually I have never tasted it nor do I want to.  I find as I get older I am eating more things that I would have never touched years ago.  Some are good for me such as Squash - that was a huge blech for me as a child - now I could eat it every day and what a delightful low calorie veggie.  On the bad side I have discovered Blue Cheese and during this journey I have done my best to break up with cheese so I have to avoid my new food discovery.

I remember sitting in Starbucks around Christmas time with my mom and she ordered the eggnog latte and was trying to force me to try it.  I said no and she kept insisting.  Maybe it is really tasty but do I need to discover any more food items (especially calorie laden treats) in my life?  Are there any things that you won't try for fear of discovering that you might really like it?  I know I don't need to find any more food items that I like -- the list is too long as it is.

So for now and for the rest of my life I am going to ignore Eggnog, Pumpkin Pie, Boston Cream Pie and many other supposedly yummy items.

This will be my first cross-over blog so if you my dear reader wander into both my blogs I apologize for being lazy - but they are my blogs and I can play how I want.

Lessons Learned

Yes even at my great age I can learn lessons - over and over and over (Alix I see you laughing - love it!!).  Enz said much the same thing in her blog today (or was it yesterday) which of course inspired me to actually blog two days in a row.  Yesterday I mentioned that I messed up and didn't bring my lunch  - -which is my main protein and carbohydrates for the day.  I eat the highest calorie meal at lunch and its really working.

Anyway only having carrots and canteloupe for lunch began to take a toll on me about 3PM.  I developed a headache which is my sign of lack of protein and I get an ache in my shoulder (told you I was weird) if I don't have enough carbs.  Of course I had to stop for gas and traffic was not great so I arrived home about 4:30  and promptly opened a can of tuna and made a sandwich - ahhhhhhh relief.  My calories for the rest of the day were pretty good but I believe this is about the thirtieth or fortieth time I have learned this lesson.

Struggling Back

Just read dear Loretta's blog and I must do my best to return to blogging daily.  I know that recording my calories daily is what is keeping me on the straight and narrow but these last few days have been so emotionally draining. I finally posted on my other blog what is going on you can read it here but this is about my weight loss struggle so lets yak about that.

First of all when I got the news on Friday I had to attend a Christmas pot luck party that evening with my husband's co-workers.  I didn't do that great but I did better than I would have a year ago.  I did discover that I am not going to allow my emotions rule my eating (I am just buying stuff instead).

So my problems and victories over the last few days are as follows.

Bad - over ate Friday, Sat and Sunday
Good - recorded everything to the best I could (side bar shows the ooopsies)
Bad - not enough exercise
Bad - did not weigh myself this past weekend so off schedule
Good - got back on the wagon Monday and calories have been good since
Good - avoided the chocolates in the office because I couldn't record calories (on Tuesday)
Bad - messed up and didn't bring lunch - didn't realize the place I expected to eat was closed for Christmas
Good/Bad - had two chocolates for lunch but got the calories and included them - as I said to my co-worker wasted calories.
GOOD - wearing my size 16W jeans in total comfort *grins*

So we have just another week -- I only have three possible bad days over the holidays but I am watching all the blogs - gaining strength from all you successful people and know together we will do it.  I will also do my best to not ignore my blog as long in the future.

Away from Blogging for a Bit Longer

Dear Blog and you my dear Reader I am going to be away for a bit longer.  I explained in my other blog that the season and work are getting in my way.  I am still working on my calories daily with only one OOOPS in the last little while but I corrected the next day. 

Most of all I miss reading all my inspiring blog friends - you are AMAZING!!!!  And I want to get back to reading as soon as possible.  But until then keep on keeping you are all fabulous.

266 if you pop by I just wanted to mention that from your amazing giveaway I have sent off my cheque to Covenant House and you were so inspiring I hope next year to visit and help in person with some of the shelters.  Thanks again for this wonderful seasonal giveaway.