Tamira

I just wanted to pop and share a good deal I got on a 20″ Turkey Platter Set from Linens N Things.  The set is on sale for $9.99.   You can order it for a total of $8.40 including shipping.  It is the “deal of the day” so shipping is free and when you enter 223823997733 for the coupon code, it takes 20% off of the $9.99 price.  

Enjoy!

Well, for my official weigh in, I have lost 7lbs!  I know this is my first week, but I’ve never lost this much weight in one week ever!  I am realistic and do not expect to stay in the 7lbs/week trend, but it’s a great way to get back in the saddle!  :-)  Weekends are still hard for me apparently.  As long as we are out and busy, I’m fine, but as soon as I am in the house all day boredom sets in, and we all know what happens then.   I’m back supporting the baby carrot industry to deal with the boredom eating.

So, my daughter has joined the ecology club at school and one of the big things with them is going organic.  So, when we went to the grocery store this weekend, I picked up as many organic (reasonably priced) things as I could find that was on our list.  Not to sound like a commerical, but the organic fresh vegetables tasted so much better than what I normally purchase.  I’m glad she joined this club and opened me up to new food options.  I think we may start to convert all of our food to organic.  I didn’t realize what a great twofer organic food was.  Save the planet AND save your body!

Other than that, not much is going on.  I’m trying to plan my Thanksgiving menu for 10 people with good healthy food that is also delicious enough for teenagers to eat.  I usually sub in pureed veggies for a lot of ingredients in the dishes, but i’m not sure if that will fly with the greasy spoon crowd.  I guess the good thing about it is, they are a captive audience, and since I’m doing all of the cooking, they’ll have no choice but to eat it!

So, my choices were assorted sandwich wraps, potato salad, pasta salad, green salad, potato chips, cupcakes, cookies and dessert bars.  I filled my entire plate with green salad with a low-cal raspberry vinagraite dressing and NO croutons.  Then I add half of a turkey and cheese wrap to my plate, removed the cheese and added mustard.  When I sat down with my co-workers to eat, of course the first question was “Where is the rest of your food?!”  Since I am not ready to disclose that I’m on my second attempt at this, I simply said that I was being good because Thanksgiving is coming and I want to be able to enjoy it.  “But where is your dessert?” was the next question.  And I countered with, I’ll have it during Thanksgiving! 

It’s funny that no one says anything (in your face anyway) whenyour plate is overflowing, but when you eat normal healthy portions, you get questioned.  America is so accustomed to everything being supersized, that we forget how much (or little) we are really supposed to eat.  Even when I was running along side the wagon, I still did not eat large portions.  My body was still used to eating smaller portions, so I’d pretty much only get the kids meal when eating out.  Some restaurants will let you do that now and just charge you and extra $2.  For me, it’s worth it since I was raised as a member of the clean plate club.  It’s still hard for me to leave food on my plate and the portion sizes today are absurd. And now, with restaurants offering better kid menu option, it’s great.

I hope you all have a happy and SAFE Halloween and stay away from all of your temptations.  I can’t wait to hear how every managed.

I’m grateful that I am on the second leg of my journey.  After having my experiences last year I am no longer trying to figure out what works for me, portions, etc.  Yesterday was a breeze for me.  I did have a few pieces of candy, but since I had eaten responsibly during the day, I was still within my calorie range.  I also didn’t give in to past thoughts of, “I had some candy and I’ve blown it for the week, so let’s go to IHOP!”.  In the past, that is exactly what I would have done, but I know it’s not an all or nothing thing anymore. 

I’m grateful that the buddies I made in the past are still here for me and still full of support several months after my disappearance.  And finally, I’m grateful that I have learned many lessons at an age where I am young enough to do something about it and change my life and my health forever.  Some of those lessons, I have learned from my great grandmother, so in celebration of her, Happy Dia de los Muertos! 

First this morning, i weighed myself and I was 217.1 lbs from 220.9 on Sunday.  I’m not counting a 3.8lb weight loss until Sunday when it will be official, but it will sure make sticking to my plan at the Halloween Party today SO much easier!

Secondly, they announced our new benefits for next year this morning and they are adding discounts for weight loss programs.  This is the first time I’ve worked at a company that has even attempted to help out with weight loss.  No offense to anyone who needs it, but I get frustrated whenever smoking cessation medication is covered and weight loss meds are not.  I can’t say which one is more hazardous to your health, but they are both VERY serious addiction problems and deserve at least equal attention.  Of course, they have not announced what the discounts will be and in what capacity, but I’m glad that they are at least taking the step forward.

Halloween was a challenge last year, but this year will be much easier for me.  My daughter went to a Halloween carnival on Saturday and collected plenty of candy.  Since I raided most of it, I’m over the sugar rush.  And since I officially got back on track yesterday, it doesn’t count(yeah, right)!  So, now that I have it out of my system, I have no desire for the treats tomorrow.  There is still plentyin her pumpkin and I havent been tempted since Saturday.  This will make tomorrow a LOT easier.  My next “challenge” will be my company Halloween lunch.  I just have to remember all of the tools I learned last time around and divide my plate up into 1/2 salad, 1/4 fruit, and 1/4 whatever I want.  Doing this in the past has helped me tremendously.  Since I eat everything in the order I listed above, by the time I get to the “bad” food, I’m already full of the good stuff and don’t really eat it.  Wish me luck!

Well, I’ve conquered two of my bigget problems today.  I haven’t had my daily cup(s) of coffee and I didnt grab any of the goodies leftover from a meeting.  The past few months, I’ve been doing both with no consider of the consequences.  Now that the consequences are slapping me in the face, I have no choice.  I do mis smy coffee, but I miss ME even more.  I know this will be a daily thing, but I’m willing to recommit myself to this every single morning.  It’s great to be back and have a forum to get things out.  Even with no comments, I feel better just being able to get things off of my chest.

Hello all,

I am back and 18 pounds heavier than when I started almost 2 years ago.  I lost 78lbs last year and went from an 18/20 to an 8 in 11 months.  The problem was that I have been heavy for the past 9 years now and my brain could not reconcile the image being seen in the mirror.  As much as people were telling me how great I looked, i coudn’t see it.  I KNEW my clothes were a lot smaller (and cheaper), but I just couldn’t see the difference.  Now that have put almost 90lbs back on, I can see the difference.  Not only can I see it, but I can feel it.  My mobility has significantly decreased, which is something that i am not accustomed to dealing with.  I know my emotional health played a bit part of my relapse, but all I can do is deal with that as well as I can and know that my emotional health affects every aspect of my life and health overall.

This time, aside from you guys, this will be a private journey.  I think I added a lot of pressure to myself when everyone saw me losing weight here at work and were asking me for diet advice and weight loss tips, when for the most part I was still winging it myself.  I’ve always loved to eat, even when I was very thin, but I have to learn (again) that indulgences every once in a while is okay, but I can no longer take the easy road in battling this demon.

How is everyone?

Since I am back on track, I had a very good weigh in.  Nothing to report to Mary’s challenge yet, but I am 2 lbs away from my pre weight.  Once I lose 3lbs, I can finally post my weight ticker up on the forum pages without feeling like a fraud!   So, hopefully, I can still lose the 20lbs I committed to for the Memorial Day challenge.  According to the calendar, I have plenty of time to do it, losing 1.5lbs a week.  I just have to stay focused and committed (and exercise). 

Other than that, all is well.  I’ve spent the last two weekends trying to find the perfect items for goodie bags for my daughter’s birthday parties.  I don’t give out candy and she’s very particular about the toys items.  We have been to at least 4 different party stores, 2 dollar stores and a craft.  I’ll be glad when birthday parties are her and a few friends going to the movies and calling it day.  As it stands, there is the cupcake shindig at her school on Friday, the Family event on Saturday and the Friends party on Sunday.  Thank Goodness I only have one child!