Sunday, January 31, 2010

Deadlines and eating...planning is the key

The next two weeks are going to be jammed packed with deadlines. I know that I will have to pay close attention to my eating because there is so much to do that I could easily miss meals if I am not really careful.

Notice my worries are about missing meals…healthy meals. The old me would have solved that problem by eating junk food throughout the day to “keep my strength up” which is simply a way to pump enough sugar through my system to keep me awake.

Planning ahead is going to be more critical than usual. I always track my points, but I am going to have to think about tomorrow before tomorrow actually comes. And, I’m going to be doing that for 14 days.

Tonight, for example, I have loaded my purse with my granola bars, because I am going to be in meetings from 10-4 and don’t know if lunch is on the horizon. At least, if it’s not, I can sneak away for a few minutes and eat my Nature Valley bar and a banana. I’ll pack the banana in the morning so it’s not an unidentifiable pile of black mush when I need it.

As I finished writing tonight’s post, I remembered that it’s the last day of the month. This should have been the post that recaps the things I learned in January. Oh well, tomorrow is another day…with a new item to add to my "to do “list.

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Greetings from the land of nod

It’s amazing how jet lag works. I flew home Thursday evening and knew that Friday was going to be a on and off tired day. But, I really was hoping that today I would be wide- awake and raring to go. No such luck. I have alternated between thinking up things I am going to accomplish and procrastinating until I nod off on the couch. I can honestly admit that not much has gone on around my house all day.

My husband is working until 7, so pretty soon I am going to get off the couch and actually execute a meal. Today was Safeway delivery day, so there is food in the house to cook. Now, if I could only get jazzed up about cooking it.

My master plan is to come up with a meal made up of things that can be cooked in the oven. That way, there is less clean-up in the pots and pans department. I find that the Weight Watchers eTool that builds recipes from the ingredients in your kitchen is a big help.

I will be loading in potatoes, carrots, parsnips, tomatoes, and chicken. If the results come back with all of them going into one oven-proof cooking vessel, I will be sending a thank you note to the CEO of Weight Watchers.

Meanwhile, you probably have figured out that by writing this posting, I have procrastinated making dinner. Better get going before I nod off again.

Talk to you soon.

Friday, January 29, 2010

No place like home

I’m back! About 60 hours of time elapsed since I left Novato, and 20 of them were spent traveling to and from Tampa/St. Petersburg. That’s a lot of mileage, airports and time spent in transit.

What I didn’t get to report on Tuesday, weigh-in day at Weight Watchers, was my loss of .4 pounds for a total of 19.8 pounds in 19 weeks. I didn’t get to stay for the meeting because I was on my way to the airport, so I feel like I missed out on important information. I always pick up a tip or two by staying for the whole meeting which I will do again this coming Tuesday.

The exciting news is why I was in Florida. On March 29, I am launching a new pet product on HSN (Home Shopping Network), which is headquartered in St. Petersburg. I was down there learning all about my upcoming on-air engagement.

Once again, I am thankful that I started Weight Watchers in September. At that time, I hadn’t even approached HSN, but you just never know when exciting things are going to happen. I know that I will be much more comfortable in my clothing when I do the show than I would have been if I was 20+ pounds heavier.

And now the jet lag is taking over, and it’s time to give in and go to bed. There’s no place like home.

Talk to you soon.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Olympic tips for all of us…part three

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics and while on the road for business, I am leaving you with helpful hints that I read in an article entitled, 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It, Stop Failure Before it Starts, written by Julie Isphording, a former Olympian.

Here are the final five:

Just show up. Go to the gym, class, or the park. Once you’re there, it’s hard to say no. 98% of life is showing up.

Eat. Follow a healthy eating pattern. If you limit your calorie intake, you will not have enough energy to work out and your metabolism will slow down.

Understand your energy cycle. There are peaks during our days. Even during the week. Try to complete your workout when you feel good about yourself.

Wallow in your greatness. You can exercise to become a better exerciser, or you can exercise to become a better mother, a better father, doctor, teacher, or a better friend – or you can exercise to become BETTER. Be proud of that accomplishment.

Have fun. Where’s your childlike spirit? When you can make workouts "playouts," you’ve got it made.

And as Julie says, don’t give up on yourself. After all, it’s never too late to be that healthy person you might have been.

I’m back tomorrow and have missed you.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Olympic tips for all of us…part two

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics and while on the road for business, I am leaving you with helpful hints that I read in an article entitled, 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It, Stop Failure Before it Starts, written by Julie Isphording, a former Olympian.

Here are five more of them:

Where are your friends? Four words, four reasons – motivation, inspiration, determination, conversation. Surround yourself with friends who think positive and live large.

Put the pain in perspective. When the going gets tough, remember that you have survived 600 carpools, 540 loads of laundry (this month), 41 baseball games, 230 dinners and one family vacation. What’s the big deal?

Allow yourself to slow down. You’re driving this bus! For the first time today, you are in control.

Sign up for a race. It’s a goal to strive for and adds a little meaning to your everyday workout.

Run/walk in public. Be proud of your accomplishment. Take in all the sites and be an inspiration to others.

Check in tomorrow for the last five tips. I’ll be back on Friday, so stay tuned…!

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Olympic tips for all of us…part one

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics and while on the road for business, I am leaving you with helpful hints that I read in an article entitled, 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It, Stop Failure Before it Starts, written by Julie Isphording, a former Olympian.

Here are the first four of them:

Throw away the bathing suit you wore in high school… and the memory too. It’s
normal to have a mental image of yourself when you last exercised like a fiend. But if that image is from high school, you could be in big trouble. Even if it’s from last year, forget it. Remember as little as possible of what you used to look like. Starting today, make new memories.

Prepare. We already know you don’t have the time, so write it down like an
appointment every day. You wouldn’t cancel an appointment, why would you cancel on yourself? Aren’t you important too? _

Start slowly. Do much less than what you’re capable of. Take a 20-minute walk if
you’re returning to exercise. You might feel like it’s not enough, but it’s a good start.

Get the family involved. Run while your daughter rides her bike. Go to a local track and let the kids play their own games. Run with your spouse. Sign up for a local 10K. Walk with your son. Celebrate with a little something special after every activity.

Check in tomorrow for five more tips.

Talk to you soon.


















Olympic tips for all of us…part two

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics and while on the road for business, I am leaving you with helpful hints that I read in an article entitled, 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It, Stop Failure Before it Starts, written by Julie Isphording, a former Olympian.

Here are five more of them:

Where are your friends? Four words, four reasons – motivation, inspiration, determination, conversation. Surround yourself with friends who think positive and live large.

Put the pain in perspective. When the going gets tough, remember that you have survived 600 carpools, 540 loads of laundry (this month), 41 baseball games, 230 dinners and one family vacation. What’s the big deal?

Allow yourself to slow down. You’re driving this bus! For the first time today, you are in control.

Sign up for a race. It’s a goal to strive for and adds a little meaning to your everyday workout.

Run/walk in public. Be proud of your accomplishment. Take in all the sites and be an inspiration to others.

Check in tomorrow for the last five tips. I’ll be back on Friday, so stay tuned…!

Talk to you soon.


















Olympic tips for all of us…part three

In the spirit of the upcoming Olympics and while on the road for business, I am leaving you with helpful hints that I read in an article entitled, 14 Tips for Starting and Sticking With It, Stop Failure Before it Starts, written by Julie Isphording, a former Olympian.

Here are the final five:

Just show up. Go to the gym, class, or the park. Once you’re there, it’s hard to say no. 98% of life is showing up.

Eat. Follow a healthy eating pattern. If you limit your calorie intake, you will not have enough energy to work out and your metabolism will slow down.

Understand your energy cycle. There are peaks during our days. Even during the week. Try to complete your workout when you feel good about yourself.

Wallow in your greatness. You can exercise to become a better exerciser, or you can exercise to become a better mother, a better father, doctor, teacher, or a better friend – or you can exercise to become BETTER. Be proud of that accomplishment.

Have fun. Where’s your childlike spirit? When you can make workouts "playouts," you’ve got it made.

And as Julie says, don’t give up on yourself. After all, it’s never too late to be that healthy person you might have been.

I’m back tomorrow and have missed you.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Pack the suitcase, Jane

It’s time to pack. I’ve put it off all day and really need to focus on getting it done so I can go to bed. I usually check my suitcase at the airport because when I travel alone, I can’t be bothered dragging it around and worrying about space in the overhead compartment. I am making an exception for this trip because I'm only gone for three days, and I have one hour between connections. There is every reason to believe that I will arrive at my destination and a checked suitcase won’t make it.

So, now the rubber is going to meet the road as I try to pick out items that are “business casual” and fit them into the tiny suitcase. How does this tie in to Weight Watchers, you might wonder? Well, my clothes are smaller now so they take up less space. Okay, it’s a stretch, but I’m going with it.

I am imagining what it’s going to be like when all 50 pounds have disappeared, and my clothes really are that much smaller. I may change my whole philosophy on carry-on luggage. Just think how much money I would save by not checking my suitcase. At $25 a bag, I can start to build a small trust fund off the savings.

Before I start spending the savings, I probably should go back to the task at hand…pack the suitcase, Jane.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Collecting activity points

Last Tuesday, it rained and I didn’t walk to my meeting. It was the first time that I chose the car over getting soaked. This Tuesday is going to be the second time. I have a choice to make…either skip Weight Watchers this week or drive to the meeting, get weighed in and go directly to the airport to catch a flight for my business trip. I don’t even have time to stay for the meeting, but I am going to attend. It will be tight, but I can make it work.

Knowing in advance that I am missing another walk, my husband and I went out today, in the drizzle, and walked for 90 minutes, which is twice the roundtrip walk that I do on Weight Watchers day. I figure that it makes up for missing two weeks of walking. I got six activity points for my efforts and even got to wear my cute new rainboots.

I am left with one more hurdle during this trip. I have to figure out how to input my daily postings without my computer. It’s not coming on the trip and neither is my husband. I may write three of them before I go and have him post them for me. And, I may not, if time runs out. One way or another, I will catch up again. It may mean you get two posts on the same day. So many details, so little time….

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

If you bake them...we will come

I stopped at Peet’s in Corte Madera today for a coffee break and decided to buy a plain biscotti. I checked my points tracker and for three points, I thought it was worth it. Everything else in there was pastry-like, so it was pretty much my only option.

Boy, was I disappointed. I wanted to like it, because it is rare that I buy anything like this and my coffee looked so lonely without a companion goodie. But, I might as well have eaten the plastic wrapper it came in because the taste would have been the same. I had thought about the other choice of biscotti, the one with the chocolate on it, but didn’t want the extra points.

I thought about throwing it away. But, I still was feeling bad about the halibut which bit the dust last week and couldn’t do it again. Even dunking it in my coffee did nothing to improve the taste. At least it didn’t cost as much as that fish.

So, Peet’s if you are listening, change the formula for those plain biscotti. There are people out there trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and we need better three point goodies to go with our coffee. If you bake them, we will come.

Talk to you soon.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Loving my oven

I’m a bit tired of the rain. We need it, and my lawn looks like Ireland, but when it goes on for days, I start looking at pictures of tropical beaches. So, today, during the few hours of almost good weather, my husband and I took a drive around Marin.

As it approached about 5 p.m., he asked me if I wanted to stop and pick up something to eat. He has a business dinner this evening, so it would have just been me doing a “grab and go” instead of cooking for one. I didn’t take him up on the offer and decided to cook and eat alone.

When I got home and after he got going, I was trying to decide what to make for myself. I put a sweet potato in the oven to buy some time while I was deciding. Then, I had a flashback to my pre-Weight Watchers idea of a dinner if I was alone. I would have had ice cream, cookies, and topped it off with cake, if there was some in the house. I would have spaced it out over a few hours, but I never would have turned on the oven.

The flashback ended, and I had pork. I am now going to have some popcorn.

Have a great weekend.

Talk to you soon.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

A day of pampering

My readers know that I have my reward system in place for every 10 pounds lost. I am .6 pounds shy of the 20 pounds milestone, but I chose to take my reward today, mostly because my hair needed a touch-up. It was a day of pampering.

I drove into San Francisco and went to the salon that I have frequented for over 15 years and treated myself to a highlighting and haircut. It was the perfect way to spend another rainy day, and I arrived home relaxed and better groomed. At one point during the haircut, from all the hair brushing that was going on, I dozed in and out of consciousness. You can’t beat that in the rewards department.

One housekeeping note for those of you who read yesterday’s post about Good Morning America …my segment airdate has been moved to next week. I’ll keep you posted.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A smaller me on TV

Sometimes, you get a chance to do something unexpected, and it reminds you that you are really glad that you joined Weight Watchers. Today was one of those days.

It actually started yesterday afternoon when I got a call from a producer at Good Morning America asking if I would be interested in doing a segment based upon an interview I did last week for the Wall Street Journal. Of course, I said yes. Then, I found out that the film crew was coming to my home today. No time to go shopping for a new outfit.

As I dressed for the shoot, I remembered last May when I was dressing for my appearance on HGTV’s ColorSplash and having one heck of a time finding something to wear that fit me. Today, I pulled out an old outfit and felt comfortable that I could actually breathe when I sat down. It was a major milestone.

So, when contemplating when to get started on losing weight, my answer is start immediately. You never know when TV will come knocking.

You can catch my segment on Friday, January 22, on Good Morning America, which airs on ABC between 7-9 a.m. If you want a comparison of my weight from my pre- Weight Watchers ColorSplash performance, it is airing again tomorrow, Thursday, January 21 at 3:30 p.m. on HGTV.

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Hats off to Nora and Scott...and to losing 19.4 pounds

One great benefit of attending Weight Watchers’ meetings is getting to know the other members. I have met some really wonderful people in the 18 weeks that I have been a member and have gotten some very helpful tips.

Today, my buddy, Nora, mentioned a restaurant in Novato that I didn’t know existed and tonight, my husband and I went to Aurora. We had a terrific meal, and I was able to erase the bad memory of my “halibut debacle” and replace it with a yummy salmon memory, complete with mixed vegetables and potatoes. Service was impeccable and the price of our meal was 20% less than the meal we didn’t enjoy a few days ago.

So, thanks to Nora and also to Scott who taught me today how not to burn parsnips. And, by the way, it’s Tuesday, so it was weigh-in day. I’m down another .2 pounds for a total of 19.4 pounds.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Suiting up

When I got tired of working today, I decided to try on two new bathing suits that I bought in November. I ordered them online, and because they are a brand I am familiar with, I am also familiar with the sizing. I bought a size that I thought would be correct when I actually have to wear them next month. My pound a week average weight loss coupled with the online measurement tool suggested the size that would be right for me.

I can report that they are almost the correct fit. Another five pounds or so and they will be perfect. I have enough time to make that happen. I don’t usually purchase items with the thought that I will fit into them at a later date. But, I also don’t usually lose weight and keep it off. Now that I’m doing it for my health, I have no fear that I am wasting my money.

With the amount of rain anticipated this week, I might have to run around the backyard in my new suits…or not.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

And the winner is...

A rainy Sunday lends itself well to working on the “clean closets and drawers” project. Today, I tackled my closet. I knew it would be a multi-hour endeavor, and I wasn’t wrong.

I had a lot of fun finding clothes of all sizes and eras that have traveled through the decades of my life. I have one outfit that looks like I should operate an elevator in a fancy hotel, but is one of my husband’s favorites, so I hang onto it. When it fits again, I will model it in our home.

I found the outfit that I wore when we renewed our wedding vows on Maui on our 10th wedding anniversary. I still think it’s lovely and will wear it again very soon…it fits but I haven’t figured out where to go in it.

I also found some real “doozies” that are never going to be worn by me again, and I’m not too sure why they were living in my closet. When all is said and done, you have to part company with items like these.

One of my best finds was a floor length black cashmere sweater from the 80’s. I think I used to wear it with pants, but now it has become my very soft bathrobe. It’s great with black dogs because it doesn’t show the fur.

The project is done, and I have visited the closet several times today to admire the finished work. Plus, I have quite a nice selection of gently worn, non-doozies, to donate to charity.

Time to finish watching the Golden Globes and to admire most of the gowns. I’ll being wearing a cashmere bathrobe.

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Just for the "halibut"

Last evening, I felt like going out for a date night with my husband after he came home from work. He had texted me earlier in the day to see what I wanted to do, and I decided that we should try a restaurant in Novato that we had heard about but had never visited.

We arrived at the restaurant at 7:45 and the whole thing was over, and we were home in one hour. That’s really not our “cup of tea” when it comes to dining out. I went into the meal with 12 points, so I knew I would have lots of choices. Within five minutes of sitting down, the server came to take our order. We could have stalled out for a while, but we were hungry and the specials worked for both of us, so we forged ahead. I was excited about fresh halibut served with a vegetable risotto.

Like magic, the meal appeared about 10 minutes later and I split it in half so I could take home what would become my lunch today. Except that it didn’t…I was so under whelmed by the fish, which was like white rubber, that I never wanted to see it again.

The server had taken the half away and boxed it before I knew how much I didn’t like it. So, I debated whether to leave it on the table, “by accident” or dispose of it elsewhere. Once before, I had tried to leave a doggie bag on the table in a very upscale restaurant in Florida. The server chased me into the parking lot to return it to me. I didn’t want a repeat of that episode.

So, I took the box home and dropped it in the outside garbage can before crossing my threshold. I did feel guilty about throwing away food, but I knew it wasn’t going to work for me ever again.

The only leftovers that I had were the six points of my daily total that were available when I got home. I had lost the desire to eat thanks to the really yucky fish. Oh well, maybe it was just a bad night at the restaurant. It’s going to be a while before I go back to find out.

Talk to you soon.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Celebrate your success

Today is my four -month anniversary of joining Weight Watchers. I realize that I seem to have a milestone to celebrate quite frequently, whether it’s the number of months of membership, the number of pounds lost, the number of inches shrunk and the list goes on.

What is good about milestones is that they break up the monotony of thinking about losing weight as a big chunk of poundage or a long period of time. It doesn’t have to be boring, and I encourage you to measure your accomplishments, small and not so small, frequently.

For me, the act of writing this blog and sharing it with you makes me focus, daily, on my progress. You don’t have to write a blog to get the same benefits. You can write in your diary or journal. You can tell a family member or friend. As the Nike commercials say, “Just Do It.” Celebrate your milestones…and have a great weekend.

Talk to you soon.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Seven days at sea

Next month, I will be boarding the largest cruise ship in the world, the Oasis of the Seas, for a week of sailing around the Caribbean. Sunday’s Chronicle featured a three-page article about the new ship and highlighted some of the 24, yes you read that correctly, places that serve food on the ship. From cupcakes to fine dining, everywhere you look there is another eating establishment.

My dad is gearing up for the cruise by trying to lose five pounds between now and when we leave. I think he will do it, but I haven’t asked him if the rest of his plan includes eating it back on while we are away. I think that at age 84, he can make his own decision on that one.

My sister is getting ready for the cruise by making me promise to split meals with her. I like that idea, because it keeps us from wasting food. There is really no point in trying to take leftovers back to the cabin and stuffing them in the mini-frig, as the next day will yield more enormous meals.

I’m doing nothing different to get ready for the cruise in the eating department. For me, the two things that will change on-board are the need to track points manually, as my computer isn’t sailing, and seven days of not posting to this blog. Yes, I think I am going to be shut out in that department, unless using the public internet connection is free.

So, my idea is to recite my postings to my husband on a daily basis. Let’s see how fast he can disappear on a ship the size of three football fields when I start down that road.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

What a waist

Out came the measuring tape in a fit of curiosity earlier today. You know I don’t take my measurements too often, but I knew that it had been a while since I entered some new information on my eTool measurement tracker. I do like looking at the graph after I add the new data.

It has been 17 weeks since I joined Weight Watchers and there are 10.5 inches less of me now, so it was worth taking the time to check. The biggest change came in the middle…my waist is five inches smaller. Believe me, it needs to be.

I started thinking back to 34 years ago tomorrow, the day my oldest son, Erik, was born. I gained 50 pounds with that pregnancy, and my waist disappeared completely. I joined Weight Watchers, for the second time, several months after he was born and within a short period of time, I got my waist back. I did it so I could fit into my work clothes and head back to my job.

Now that I am a grandmother to that son’s son, I want a waist so I can bend over more easily, pick up my grandson and be here to see him grow up.

So, Happy Birthday, Erik! And baby, Matt, I'll be there to see you soon.

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Saving $$$ joining Weight Watchers

Another week, another weigh-in…and the report is that 1.6 pounds more is gone for a total of 19.2 pounds in 17 weeks.

But, the real story is in the title of this posting. My son, Alex, drives from San Francisco to Novato on Tuesday mornings to join me at Weight Watchers. We walk the three miles round trip from my house to the meeting and back, and then he usually goes back to the city.

Last evening, he parked his car in a spot that required it to be moved at 7:30 a.m., by mistake. Luckily, as he was getting dressed to drive out to Novato, he heard the tow truck outside his window and ran out to stop the car from being impounded just in the nick of time. Had it not been for Weight Watchers, he would have slept through it.

So, he credits Weight Watchers for saving him hundreds of dollars in fines and for losing another pound today. He’s one happy guy.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Granola and bananas

Today was a very long day. Like most Sunday nights, I go to bed thinking about the workweek in front of me and does not sleep as well as I do every other night of the week. I had to get up earlier than usual, at 6ish and head off to an all day video shoot for an upcoming television show that I am doing.

By the time I packed extra clothes, touchup makeup and the props I needed for the shoot, it was time to get going, and I didn’t have time for any breakfast. My last ditch effort to do something was to throw four packages of Nature Valley Honey n’ Oats granola bars and two bananas into my purse and hope for the best.

And so my day unraveled…no time for breakfast, no time for lunch, and I shared the granola bars and one banana with other people at the shoot. By the time I got back home at 6 p.m., I was too tired to do anything but take a nap.

Going into dinner, I had 16 unused points and very little appetite. Tomorrow is weigh-in day, so it will be interesting to see what happens on the scale. I promise to let you know. Now it’s time for a good night’s sleep.

One quick note…check out tomorrow’s Wall Street Journal, either the paper version or online, and you can read all about my big apology in Elizabeth Bernstein’s column on relationships.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Movie club test isn't pass/fail

This evening is Movie Club. If you remember, I started this blog because of the September Movie Club choice, Julie and Julia. We meet every other month, and my husband and I missed the November meeting because we were in Florida. So, this is the first time most of the group has seen me since I began Weight Watchers.

When you or the people you live with look at you on a daily basis, your weight loss is gradual and there aren’t a lot of “aha” moments. Even though I have lost over 17 pounds, I started out packing enough extra pounds to wonder when “outsiders” will notice the difference. Tonight will be the test.

But, it doesn’t really matter if anybody does notice, because I know what has been going on. I know that my pants are two sizes too big. I know that my knees feel a lot better when I stand up. I know that I have less “chinnage.” I know I am getting healthier.

The important lesson in this for me is that once again, I’m not trying to lose weight for an occasion…even if the occasion is having other people notice I have lost weight. It’s all being done for me…and that’s the way it should be.

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

A primer on beef

Once upon a time, I used to splurge and buy a prime rib from either Safeway or Costco, depending upon which one had the better price. Yesterday, the Safeway delivery truck pulled up with a bouncing five- pound baby beef, complete with four ribs. It’s the first one that has arrived since joining Weight Watchers.

Tonight, as I was cooking it, I thought back to its ancestors…prime ribs that had been consumed by my family over the years. A four rib roast meant that my husband and I could each have a rib and enjoy another meal later in the week with the two that were leftover.

This time, my portion is four ounces. I’m not complaining but actually amused by the amount of leftovers we have to look forward to over the upcoming week. My husband and I barely put a dent in that little guy. Tomorrow, my son will be dropping in for a visit, so it’s obvious what he will be getting for dinner.

It’s really a good thing that we love this cut of meat. It’s going to become am old friend by the time it’s finished.

Talk to you soon.


Friday, January 8, 2010

The Italian job

I knew that the minute I started playing around with the Pasta eTool cheat sheet, I’d end up in an Italian restaurant. Tonight’s dinner was at Mulberry Pizza in Terra Linda as the prelude to a movie. Because of the wait to get into the restaurant, the movie came and went, and we were not in attendance.

While my husband and the other couple who joined us figured out what award-winning pizza they were going to concoct, I confidently ordered the small spaghetti and meatballs with marinara sauce. I had built that dinner using the cheat sheet and knew that if I gave away the meatballs, I was left with a seven-point meal.

I was everybody’s friend when my dinner arrived because I donated six meatballs to the top of their half pesto/half cheese pizza and turned it into a yummy treat…so I was told. I didn’t try any.

I thoroughly enjoyed my spaghetti and realized it was the first time I have had pasta since starting Weight Watchers. The cheat sheet made it so easy to know what I was doing and to make choices that make sense based upon the number of points that I had saved for dinner.

Now, with four left over points for the day, I’m heading into the kitchen to grab a Giant Fudge Bar for dessert. That’s amore.

Talk to you soon.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Chinese food makes me hungry for Italian

Yesterday, I was playing with a feature on the Weight Watchers eTool, called the Chinese Buffet Cheat Sheet, that allowed me to fill a plate with a variety of foods that one would find at a Chinese restaurant. The wrong choices, which used to be my regular choices, got me racking up 30 points before quitting the exercise. I don’t get 30 points for an entire day let alone one meal.

I guess that all that exposure to the Chinese Buffet Cheat Sheet catapulted me into a Chinese restaurant this evening before attending a movie. My husband and I went to Jennie Low’s, and my research last evening served me well.

I knew that one cup of chicken and broccoli plus a cup of white rice is six points, so that’s what I ordered. Of course, the portion size delivered was double the amount I needed, so I packed the rest to go. I think that a Chinese restaurant is one place where taking home leftovers goes with the meal.

Now that I got to see how much fun it is to play around with Chinese food online, I’m moving on to the Pasta Cheat Sheet. There’s a good chance that I will be found in a local Italian restaurant real soon.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

You can teach an old dog new tricks

Yesterday, I had a revelation about behavior change. Let me set the stage. As I left home to walk to Weight Watchers with my son and my husband, my husband asked me if I really wanted to break in my new walking shoes on a three- mile walk. Thinking I knew what I was doing because the new shoes are the same size and brand as my old shoes, I said I was wearing the new shoes.

Three blocks into the walk to the meeting, the pain set in and by the time I reached my destination, both of my ankles were rubbed raw and my socks were spotted with blood. My husband and son decided that after the meeting, they would walk home, get the car and drive back and get me.

I sat through the meeting annoyed at myself for not listening to my husband’s advice. I realized that I wasn’t upset because of my bleeding feet, but because I couldn’t walk home.

My husband came to the rescue when he met me at the end of the meeting. He had continued his walk to a grocery store and came back armed with band-aids and antibacterial ointment. He bandaged both ankles and then offered to walk home, get the car and come back and get me.

Once the ankles were protected, I decided to walk home. Before Weight Watchers, I wouldn’t have walked three miles anywhere, and I definitely would have taken the offer of the ride home.

More proof that you can teach an “old dog” new tricks.

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Another pound closer to goal

The report from today’s Weight Watchers’ meeting is positive. Another pound is gone for a total of 17.6 pounds in 16 weeks. And, another holiday season is over which means that there will quieter days ahead. I am looking forward to these winter months, as I could use a break from eating out for a while.

I’m in the second 90-day cycle of weight loss. As you know, I plan most things in my life by looking ahead 90 days at a time. That is a manageable chunk of time that never feels like “forever.” So, by the time March 15 rolls around, I figure that I will have lost 25 pounds, the half way mark of my weight loss goal. That will be reason to celebrate.

I’m not trying “hurry up and get the weight off.” At my age, wishing time away isn’t something I want to do. I look forward to arriving at a healthier weight and anticipate that I will enjoy the lighter version me much more than the September 15th version, which was my heaviest weight…ever.

So, let’s do this together. It’s 2010 and the beginning of a new decade. We can do it!

And to my sister, Jill, our thoughts are with you every minute. You made the right decision.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Fidgeting towards weight loss

The Today Show’s segment entitled, "New Year, New You," was brought “to me” by Weight Watchers. Since I TIVO the show, I paused it and am staring at the tagline, Stop Dieting. Start Living. I think that they are onto something!

Here are the tips that came from the show:

1. Identify and own up to what needs to change. Focus on what your unconscious motivations might be for eating and address them.
2. Copy the characteristics of successful losers. These include:
-Eat a healthy breakfast every day,
-Weigh yourself at least once a week,
-Watch less than 10 hours of TV per week, and
-Exercise, on average, about one hour a day (doesn’t have to be continuous).
3. Write down your goals in weekly parts to make them less overwhelming.
4. Increase your daily “fidget factor.” Pace around when you talk on the phone, park your car a little further from the office or grocery store, or march in place when watching TV commercials.

I am looking forward to my meeting tomorrow, as I missed last week’s meeting (the only one missed since joining) when I was visiting my sister and dad for the holidays. It will be interesting to see what the scale says after my two -week hiatus.

You know you’ll be getting my Tuesday report…regardless of which way the scale goes. Now, I have to begin marching in place before pacing on the phone.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday, January 3, 2010

A wedding dress in my future

Today, while working on my New Year’s resolution of cleaning out drawers and closets, I came across my wedding album. I sat down and enjoyed looking through every page of it, remembering that very special day, 13 years ago.

I also remembered that I had joined Weight Watchers six months before the wedding to “look good in my dress.” I have to admit that the pictures proved that I had lost enough weight to wear a dress with a waist. I also remember telling my husband that I wanted to put the dress on again for our fifth wedding anniversary just to recreate that wedding feeling again.

Well, I know exactly what closet the wedding dress is hanging, and it has not been worn in 13 years. By our fifth anniversary, my quick fix wedding weight loss had long passed, and I knew I couldn’t fit into the dress.

Today, I told my husband that I would be wearing the dress in 2010. And, when I reach my goal, it will be too big. That’s okay, because our 15th wedding anniversary is in 2011, and I look forward to having it taken in and wearing it again.

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Beating the New Year's resolution odds

I watched the Today Show this morning and one of the topics, which was no surprise on January 2, was how to a keep New Year’s resolution. The reporter pointed out that 45% of all resolutions are focused on losing weight and getting more fit. Then, the other shoe dropped…only 6% of all resolutions actually are accomplished. Yikes!

I do not lump my weight loss plan into the resolution category. As I have mentioned in previous postings, I started Weight Watchers in September and not on January 1, and I am in it for the long haul in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle.

There were five points that were mentioned in the Today Show piece to help those who want to beat the 6% odds on resolution success, and they are:

Keep it simple.
Think about a goal that is meaningful.
Take personal inventory.
Join a group.
Do the best you can every moment.

I do make a few resolutions every year, and one of them this year is to go through every drawer and closet in my home, throw out or donate unused items, and organize the remaining contents. I set a daily minimum of three drawers or one closet and if the spirit moves me, I exceed it.

Yesterday, which was day one of the resolution, I finished 12 drawers. It was a slow day at my house, as my husband was at work, and I tackled them throughout the daylight hours. Today, I have finished two closets and one drawer. It’s time to hit a few more drawers and call it quits for the day.

I’m keeping it simple, it’s meaningful, I’ve taken personal inventory and I’m doing the best I can with this resolution. I will not need to join a group for this project, although it would go a lot faster if a group came to my home and did it with me. Any interest?

Talk to you soon.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Our New Year's Eve party...of four

So, what did you do for New Year’s Eve? My husband and I went out to dinner…again. Yes, I thought I was going back to cooking last evening, but a last minute phone call from our friends who also had no plans changed our meal from a pork crown roast in our oven to the New Year’s Eve menu at Frantoio in Mill Valley.

I figured that because we were eating at 7, that the regular menu would be in force and the special New Year’s Eve menu would kick-in later to accommodate those party people who had a big night planned. I was wrong.

We love the food at Frantoio, but I really wasn’t interested in a three course fixed price meal that included champagne. It was great for the other three at the table because they got my champagne, my appetizer and my dessert. I only wanted the main course and picked rack of lamb. I exchanged the potatoes au gratin that came with it for cauliflower puree, which came with the ahi tuna. I probably violated the aesthetic sense of the chef, but didn’t care.

The meal was delicious, the spontaneity was wonderful, and we were back at our house in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square. As a New Yorker, that is the only ball that counts, so even though it was a delayed feed from three hours earlier, I was happy.

Now, it’s time to eat the pork crown roast that moved itself to this evening.

Talk to you soon.