Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Today's the day

It’s official.  The 50th week weigh-in is over and the report is…I gained .8 pounds for a total loss of 31.4 pounds during these first 50 weeks.  I absolutely don’t believe I really gained weight.  As a matter of fact, I probably lost some.  This isn’t about denial, it’s about my swollen ankle and foot.

I came home from the meeting and looked up swollen stuff to see if it equated to weight gain.  I figured that the fluid that has built up and caused my ankle to look like a sausage must weigh something, and it turns out it does.  The question remains of how much it’s worth.

This dilemma wouldn’t really be important if this wasn’t the 50th week.  I wanted an accurate reading on this milestone day and have decided that I didn’t get one.  It will all work out fine when the swelling goes away, but I will never get to know the exact weight loss on August 31st.

Okay, I am officially dwelling on this too much, and I’m done.  Stay tuned for the next 28.6 pounds of loss.  I’m not planning any sprained ankles during this next phase.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Almost # 50


This is the 315th post and the night before my 50th week at Weight Watchers.  I can’t believe how fast the time has flown.  It supports the fact that time passes anyway, so why not lose weight.

I have been trying to get on the Weight Watchers website all evening to use the points tracker, and, for the first time since joining, the site is down.  So, I will use the old-fashioned pen and paper approach until it’s up again, and then go back and enter it.  I haven’t missed tracking a meal and don’t intend on missing tonight’s dinner.

In about 10 hours, I’ll be on the scale celebrating whatever it says.  I look forward to continuing my weight loss journey and hope that you will continue to be my traveling partners. 

Thanks for the support.

Talk to you soon.


Sunday, August 29, 2010

Going for a walk...later


It was my first weigh-in last September.  One week down, 49 to go.  If you have followed this blog, you know that I got into my car to attend that meeting and discovered that the car wouldn’t start.

I had a choice…not to go and show up one week later or walk.  I chose the walk.  I had no idea how far I had to walk to get to the meeting, and I was wearing the wrong shoes.  I left my house at 9:15 for the 9:30 meeting, which would have worked if I were driving.  I arrived on foot at 10, and both of my feet were bleeding.  But, I made it.

Now, as I approach my 50th meeting on Tuesday, I have the opposite problem.  I can’t walk across my living room with a sprained ankle, so I won’t be walking to Weight Watchers.  This is a disappointment to me, as I have walked this route almost every week since I have been a member.  I was out there in the winter, even when it rained, and I was looking forward to celebrating my 50th week anniversary walking with my husband.

I have come a long way on this journey.  I was the one who would find every excuse in the book if it involved walking.  The car was my preferred mode of movement.  The good news is that I have many more weeks ahead of me to reach my new goal of 60 pounds by my 60th birthday. 

My ankle will heal, and I’ll be back on the trail.  Keep an eye out for me.

Talk to you soon.



Saturday, August 28, 2010

Scooting to safety


Let’s just say that I’m glad that if it had to happen, it happened after I lost over 30 pounds or the results could have been much worse. 

Last evening, in my attempt to take out the garbage, I missed the one step outside my back door and landed in a heap on my concrete patio.  My husband was supposed to get home from work a few hours after I hit the ground, so I was alone with the two dogs and garbage strewn everywhere.

I now know that my male dog is loyal and tried to kiss me off the ground.  The female was loyal to the garbage and attempted to leave with the leftover fish container in her mouth.

I knew I had really hurt my right ankle and a glance at my left leg yielded the equivalent of the look of a kid who had fallen of a bike…skinned and bleeding knee and foot.  The dilemma was how to get inside and up off the ground.

I scooted along on my rear end until I was back in my bedroom.  Then, I was able to reach my iPhone on my bed and texted my husband, complete with pictures of both of my legs.  He is an EMT, so I wanted to know what he thought I should do next.  While waiting for his call, I called my sister in southern California and she read me the Mayo Clinic website advice for my situation.

The end of the story is this.  I scooted along the floor to drawer that houses our kitchen hand towels and then scooted to the freezer and got ice.  I scooted to the couch and after several attempts, pulled myself up, elevated my ankle and covered it with the ice pack.  Then, I was able to reach down, get my purse that always carries Tylenol, and take them using the leftover diet Coke that had been sitting next to me on the couch.

My husband called back, came home, brought frozen peas and re-iced my ankle, wrapped it in an ace bandage, and I went to bed.

So, like I said in the beginning of this post, it’s a good thing I lost weight.  I can almost guarantee that I would have broken my ankle with 30 pounds extra landing on it, and I certainly would have scooted a lot slower.

Talk to you soon.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Bon voyage wardrobe


How could this already be the last weekend of August?  I ask that question every year around this time, because it always seems that the time between June 1st and the end of August passes by faster than any other 12 weeks of the year. 

When it was sweltering hot earlier this week, I commented that those three days were the first real summer days of the year.  Now, I’m wearing a sweater and wondering if that was it for 2010.  The cooler weather thing still bugs me in the evenings because I enjoy sitting outside after dark. That’s a throw back from my life on the East Coast, where every evening was an outdoor one.

Soon, I’ll start looking at my Fall wardrobe…and donating it.  I know that all of it is too big now, so I have been glancing at the online retailers to see what’s “in” these days.  I’ve been “not in” for a long time because I didn’t enjoy buying new clothes in plus sizes. 

That ship has sailed. 

Talk to you soon.


Thursday, August 26, 2010

When is Oprah calling?


Imagine my surprise when my husband told me that he had stalled our Tivo on a Today Show story with the teaser “ Self proclaimed fatty undertakes a bulge battle…one author’s endeavor to lose 50 pounds in 50 miserable weeks.”

This happened yesterday, and I made a beeline to the TV to take a look at the guy, yes it’s a man, who wrote the new book, I’m with Fatty, Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks.

As with many of us who are overweight, we turn to humor to cope.  The author, Edward Ugel, is no exception.  His interview with Matt Lauer was actually quite funny but his message was loud and clear.  He needed to lose weight because his health was in jeopardy. 

I read a short excerpt from his book after watching the interview and pulled the following two quotes that struck a chord with me.

I didn’t end up there because of my genes.  I didn’t end up there because I fell ill.  This wasn’t some bad hand of cards that I’d been dealt.  I was there because I wouldn’t stop eating.  I did it to myself.  It didn’t have to happen.

I wasn’t looking for a life-changing transformation. I didn’t want to go on Oprah in a bikini. I didn’t want to impress everyone at my twentieth high school reunion the following year.

Mr. Ugel nailed it as far as reasons go for my weight loss journey.  I haven’t read the book yet, so I don’t know how he lost the weight.  He seems to have had a miserable time while my almost 50 weeks has been far from it.  I enjoy Weight Watchers…the food, the planning and the people I have met along the way.

Maybe he’s just too young to appreciate the importance of his 50 weeks.  After all, he talks about his 20th high school reunion while my 40th high school reunion was last year.  By the way, if Oprah called to wear a bikini…he’d do it and so would I.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Girls' night out


It was Girls’ Night Out this evening, and we tried a new spot.  It used to be Izzy’s in Corte Madera and now is Brick & Bottle. 

I had no trouble picking my main course…petrale sole with mashed potatoes and snap peas…low in points and very tasty.  The only negative our foursome experienced was the sound level in the restaurant.  When it was Izzy’s, it was pretty loud, but now, it was so noisy that the people next to us changed tables in search of a quieter spot.  I don’t think they found one.

Now that food has taken a back seat to the social part of dining for me, it’s important to be able to hear the people with whom I am socializing.  That was not always the case this evening. 

Brick & Bottle gets one more chance.  I’ll try it with my husband and if I can hear him, then it will become a keeper.

Talk to you soon.






Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Lunch with a new friend


Week 49 has been logged into my online eTool and .4 pounds has been subtracted.  Total loss is 32.2 pounds and counting…down.

After my Weight Watchers meeting, my husband and I drove into Daly City to meet the daughter of one of our former employees who moved here from the Philippines two months ago.

Her mom worked for us for over 10 years, and we love her.  Three years ago, mom retired and went back to the Philippines and now her daughter has come here to recognize the American dream.

We have a favorite hamburger joint located very close to where we were going, so we picked up our new friend and introduced her to Joe’s Cable Car.  Back “in the day,” I would polish off a burger, onion rings and the best vanilla milk shake that money could buy. 

Today is no longer “the day” and I had a great 4- ounce burger, one onion ring, and a diet Coke.  It was still an excellent meal, and we got to show our friend a real American treat. 
I’m still full from my late lunch, so I will be staying slightly under my allotted points for the day.

Maybe, one giant fudge bar to top me off….

Talk to you soon.



Monday, August 23, 2010

'Twas the night...


'Twas the night before weigh-in and all through the house…there is no more eating.  The kitchen closed at 8 p.m. and will not re-open until coffee time tomorrow morning. 

I have a big piece of leftover prime rib in my refrigerator from yesterday’s meal, but I wouldn’t touch it today because it was coated in sea salt.  I know better than to mess around with salt on the eve of my appointment with the scale.

So, I baked some chicken breasts, coated in thyme and black pepper, and had half a sweet potato and a dollop of cranberry sauce and called it a night.  It was actually quite good, but tomorrow night, that prime rib is coming back for an encore performance.

Talk to you soon.


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Prime rib time


After last evening at the Rutherford Grill, the birthday weekend was supposed to end today with a homemade prime rib dinner…one of my husband’s favorites.

I got into a bit of a quandary because I planned the meal to be served this evening, as a wrap up to a day of hanging out by and in the pool.  This morning, we got a call from some friends to go out to dinner for pizza and a movie and said yes to the invitation. 

So, what was I going to do with the prime rib?  Well, I decided to serve it for lunch.  I popped it into the oven about 11:30 a.m. and then floated around the pool until it was ready to come out.  The house smelled great while it was cooking and my periodic trips to the kitchen to check on it made me pretty excited to get “eatin.”

It was as good as it smelled, and I enjoyed every bite.  But, I was aware of our upcoming dinner date and made sure to hang onto enough points to enjoy that, too. 

We went to Mulberry Street Pizza before the movie, and because I know they make great homemade soup, instead of a slice, I had a bowl of carrot soup. It was the perfect way to end my eating day.

Talk to you soon.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

A birthday wish


Big day at our house…it’s my husband’s birthday.  The festivities began at 3:30 p.m. with the arrival of our son, Alex, who drove out from the city.  After the exchange of birthday greetings, we hopped into the car for our trip to Napa and dinner at one of my husband’s favorite restaurants, Rutherford Grill.

We didn’t tell him where we were going until we got into the car, but since he was driving, we knew that we needed to “spill the beans.”  He was pleased with the destination.

We had reservations at 6 p.m., and when we arrived, the place was hopping.  We were seated outdoors and enjoyed the warm Napa evening.  Although the restaurant is known for its ribs, which both Alex and my husband ordered, I had the special. Grilled sea bass and heirloom tomatoes were right up my alley and were outstanding.

I always love taking a road trip to Napa and vow, just like we did earlier this week in San Francisco, that we would do it more often.  I look forward to planning our next adventure.
Happy Birthday, Mark!

Talk to you soon.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

We "ate this"


Today, my husband and I went on a date to San Francisco.  We don’t do that often enough and vowed to try to get in there at least once a month.

On the drive in, he took me to lunch at a very exclusive restaurant…Wendy’s in San Rafael.  Now, one might jump to the conclusion that a fast food restaurant is no way to start our date.  But this visit was different.

Yesterday, he had eaten lunch there and raved about a new apple pecan chicken salad with pomegranate dressing.  Coincidentally, I had seen the same salad on the Today Show in a segment that runs regularly called “Eat This Not That.”  The salad was the “eat this” option at Wendy’s.

We studied the nutritional table provided on Wendy’s website before arriving at the drive-thru window.  We knew that if we split the salad and used only one of the packets of pomegranate dressing that comes with the meal, that we would each consume 260 calories. 

I ran all the numbers through the Weight Watchers calculator and my lunch was six points….perfect.  Oh yeah, the salad was really very good.  The chicken breast was warm, and iceberg lettuce, blue cheese, dried cranberries, and pecans surrounded it.  The addition of the pomegranate dressing gave it a tangy, fresh flavor.

I definitely would recommend my “lunch club” to anyone looking for a fast, yummy, six point treat if shared with a friend…or in my case, my best friend.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The color purple


I love a good heirloom tomato.  But, I have a hard time picking one that tastes the way I imagine it’s going to taste.  At this time of year, I usually reserve my heirloom eating to restaurants, figuring that the produce buyers know what they’re doing.  It’s about a 50/50 chance that I walk away satisfied.

Today, I stopped in Safeway to pick up milk and passed the heirlooms on display.  They always look weird, because their shapes are so unusual.  There were a variety of colors, and I couldn’t resist buying a deep purple one that felt ripe.

The big reveal came a few minutes ago when I sliced into it for our dinner.  It was AMAZING.  Maybe, the best heirloom I have ever picked out myself.  I think that the purple ones are the way to go. 

I’m looking forward to next Tuesday’s Farmer’s Market in Novato.  If I can pick a great heirloom at Safeway, there have got to be even better ones at the Farmer’s Market…as long as they have the color purple.

Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

No ghosts at my celebration


Weigh-in day number 48.  Yes, it’s the 48th week, and I’m pleased to report that I have lost a total of 31.8 pounds, and .8 of it was captured in today’s weigh-in. 

Every now and then, I check my starting weight and the weigh-in weight to make sure that the subtraction along the way was done correctly.  The women who weigh us in have lots going on and every once and a while, a mistake is made.  I knew that something was off in my total because I was told that I had lost 32 pounds. 

In the interest of accuracy as I approach the 50th week milestone, I had to have it corrected.  By spot -checking, I saw that I had to have lost an amount that ended with a part of a pound.  I was hoping that I was going to find out that it was more than 32 pounds.  It ended up .2 less. 

That’s okay.  Not knowing how much I really have lost is the equivalent of not tracking all the points in everything I eat.  Eventually, it will come back to haunt me.  I don't need any ghosts celebrating with me at my 50th week anniversary of joining Weight Watchers.

Talk to you soon.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Let's talk life...insurance


It’s getting late, and I want to get ready for bed.  I was trying to think about something to tell you and coming up short this evening.  So, let’s talk life insurance…it should get all of us in the mood to fall asleep.

I was working on my estate plan and decided to purchase a life insurance policy.  I’ve carried one for close to 10 years, and it is just about ready to terminate, so it’s time to replace it. 

What does this have to do with Weight Watchers?  Plenty.  Because of my weight now, I qualify for the best rate for my age.  It’s that simple.  I asked what the rate would have been 30 or so pounds ago, and it was significantly more per month.

How’s that for a reason to lose weight…not that I’m planning on taking “the big trip” any time soon.  Remember, I’m getting healthier every day.

Talk to you soon.


Sunday, August 15, 2010

Happy Sunday


Sunday is almost over, and it was a good one.  The day started out with a visit from our son, Alex, who appeared around noon.  We decided to go for a walk to Tagliaferri’s deli for lunch where I ordered a great roast turkey and cranberry sandwich on whole wheat bread.  Then we walked home and planned our next adventure.

We went to the movies at Rowland and saw The Other Guys and laughed quite a bit for about 90 minutes.  They say that laughter is the best medicine…although I’m not sick, it did feel good.  While the men were eating popcorn, I tried a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich and have to admit it was really yummy…and only two points.

After the movie, we walked across the street to Moylan’s. I wasn’t hungry so I had a bowl of turkey and vegetable soup.  It was just enough food to end the eating portion of my day.

Now, back on my couch, I am pleased that I logged in a three-mile walk, a good laugh and learned about a new two point snack.  Like I said, Sunday was a good day.

Talk to you soon.


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Happy 300th


It’s number 300…no, not my weight, but the number of tales that I have posted on this blog since I started.  And, I’m coming into the home stretch as I approach the 50th week on August 31…so many milestones.

As I count down the 17 days until that weigh-in, I think back to when this all started.  Last August 29th, I saw myself on television on HGTV’s Color Splash and that 30 minutes of “fame” reminded me of what I already knew.  I was REALLY overweight. 

Then, my husband and I went to Mexico on vacation in early September, and I found myself out of breath just walking from our room to the pool…never mind how my bathing suit wasn’t fitting.

When we came back, we went to see Julie and Julia for our September Movie Club selection, and I just knew that I had to write a blog about something and that something had to be losing weight.

And there you have it…how we got to post number 300.  I haven’t written every day, but I have written about 90% of them.  Like losing weight, it’s not about perfection but about setting goals and working hard to achieve them.

Remember, I will hit 50 weeks very soon but I will not hit 50 pounds.  I have worked hard and will continue to work until I hit that target and then will go for 10 more pounds.  The new goal is 60 pounds by my 60th birthday…December 18, 2011.

Talk to you soon.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Another night at Duffy's


The last evening that I was in Florida, which was on Monday, we went out to dinner at Duffy’s Sports Bar.  It’s the same place we went the last time I visited, but that time we went on a Tuesday evening, which always features the turkey dinner special.

On Mondays, it’s any entrée for $9.95.  I had to see it to believe it.  The place was jammed, and my dad says it always is on Mondays because of the deal.  I perused the menu and double- checked to make sure that every single entrée, despite the price it started out, turned into $9.95. 

It was clear that I had to have the New York steak, which was $18.99 on the other six days of the week. I had to get the best deal out of all the deals.  When it arrived, with a baked potato and an ear of corn, I immediately cut the steak in half and boxed one half for the “to go” portion. 

I enjoyed the meal and enjoyed the price tag even more.  Although I left the next morning and didn’t get to eat the boxed portion, I knew I left it in good hands back in my dad’s refrigerator.  I’ll have to check and see if he got at least $4.98 worth of pleasure out of another Duffy’s special.

Talk to you soon.






Wednesday, August 11, 2010

A bit of bragging


I woke up this morning, put on my walking shoes and headed out on a walk with my husband. It was his idea, and I have to admit that after flying all day yesterday part of me wanted to sit like a lump on the couch and part of me want to stretch my legs on the walk.  The bigger part wanted the couch.

Once we were out the door, it felt good to be outside in a place without humidity.  I was actually wearing a jacket because it was a bit chilly.  We took off on a route that made a large loop back to the house and then looked on MapQuest to see how far we walked.

It was exciting to see that we had walked 3.1 miles in an hour and 15 minutes.  After being away from my husband for five days, our walk gave us the time to catch up and bragging rights to the fact that we had done a 5K without even thinking about it.

Talk to you soon.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A walk on the wet side


I’m home from the other coast after a day of flying.  My trip was lots of fun, and it was great to see my family.  I’m now half asleep as I write this post, but I did want to share my new exercise findings that began in my dad’s swimming pool.

Yesterday, I remembered that I wasn’t going to be walking to Weight Watchers today because I was going to be on the plane.  And, Florida this time of year isn’t the place to walk anywhere.  The humidity and heat can be oppressive.

So, I decided to walk for 30 minutes in the pool.  I wasn’t sure if it was legitimate exercise until I returned to my computer and checked to see if anyone else walks in a pool.  It turns out that pool walking is “big.” 

I have decided that I am now going to walk a few days a week in my pool.  I want to see what happens to my weight loss if I add this new twist to my regime. 

For now, I’m going to practice walking to my bed.

Talk to you soon.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Betting on dad


After returning home from dinner this evening, my dad, sister and I got into a discussion about weight.  My sister is very thin, and I am actually amazed that she is a member of our family.  My dad weighed 195 pounds, a healthy weight for his height…until the last 10 years.  It crept up about 10 pounds and hovers there.  He wants it to go back down but admits that it’s just too hard for him to resist certain foods.

And then there is me…eager to impart all the wisdom of 47 weeks of Weight Watchers on my dad with the hope that he will recognize that healthy eating is what he should be striving for and not just a number on the scale.  As a matter of fact, I told him he was better off avoiding the daily scale monitoring because it can make you nuts.

My sister and I worked on the approach of substituting healthy choices, like fruit, for cookies and cake and trying to eat smaller portions.  My dad eats in restaurants several nights a week, and we suggested that he split his entrée with another dining partner or to take half of it home for another meal.

I believe he really is going to try to modify his eating agenda.  I asked him to think about this way of eating as a healthier lifestyle rather than a diet because we all know that a diet isn’t a long -term solution.

My dad is 85 years old…and if I was a betting person, I’d bet he is going to succeed.

Talk to you soon.






Saturday, August 7, 2010

A date with my new suit


Today, I jumped into one of my new bathing suits that I purchased six months ago, before I could fit into it. I had confidence that by this time, it would be just right…and it is.

I have never purchased any clothing that was too small with the thought that I would lose weight.  I know my previous self better than that.  I wouldn’t have lost the weight before the item was out of style, and then it would have been donated to charity.

I proudly marched down to the pool and was greeted by the beginning of an afternoon of rain.  I didn’t even get to christen the new suit for fear that the lightning would finish me off before I was completely wet.

So, the suit and I had grouper, again, for lunch, and then we went upstairs where I resumed my regular attire.  Tomorrow, the suit and I are going out again, and we are determined to submerge ourselves in chlorine, followed by salt water.  The salt water may get scrapped if the sharks come back.  They were here yesterday.

Talk to you soon.


Friday, August 6, 2010

Gone fishin'


My first full day in Florida, and I already have two meals of fish under my belt.  Yippee! For lunch, we went to a restaurant that operates next to the swimming pool at my dad’s condo, and because he is a “regular” there, he could steer me in the right ordering direction.  I had a grilled dolphin sandwich and split it with my sister.

For dinner, we moved on to a local favorite that serves all kinds of seafood.  It was really hard to pick just one fish because they all sounded so good.  Once again, my sister and I decided to split the entrée and settled in on grouper.  It came encrusted in sweet potatoes and for side dishes, I had a julienne zucchini and more sweet potatoes…mashed ones.

The dessert order was once slice of key lime pie for the six of us.  I had none, so it became one slice of key lime pie for the five of them.  I think they should have been grateful that I am on Weight Watchers because I could have inhaled that piece of pie all by myself.

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s “fishscapade,” my made up word for the fun I am having ordering seafood.  I feel a swordfish in my future…let’s see what happens.

Talk to you soon.


Thursday, August 5, 2010

Cookie time


It’s 2:45 a.m. in Florida and I have arrived, unpacked and now will dash off a quick post about my day.  I spent it on planes…two of them and that was two too many.  It’s a long haul from San Francisco to Florida. There are no direct flights to Palm Beach, so the day started out at 8:30 a.m. our time when I left for the airport and ended at 9 p.m. our time when I arrived at my dad’s house.

Now, almost three hours later, I ready to call it a night.  The food highlight of the day happened in Houston’s airport, where I changed planes.  I planned for it before getting on the plane and waited patiently to pick it up when I ran through the terminal to catch the next flight.

“It” is a peanut butter cup cookie at the Nestle’s Café.  I know it has 7 points, and it was my dinner this evening.  Yes, it goes against all good eating habits, but I only get to have this treat when I am in this airport and that happens a few tines a year.

I bought a cup of Starbucks coffee, actually my sister bought that for me when I met up with her at that airport, and sat on my second flight enjoying every bit of my treat.  My daily points stayed intact…and that was what I planned.  Now it’s time to go to sleep.

Talk to you soon.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

To do's are done

What did I do today…the day before flying away to Florida.  It seems like an awful lot of stuff and I’m still doing it.  Here’s how the day has gone so far.

  1. Got up at 7:30 and did office work until 11:00.
  2. Packed up two dogs and their “vacation suitcase” of dog food for four days and drove them to the dog sitter in Terra Linda.  Got very sad when my male Lab decided to cry during the last five minutes of the ride.
  3. Drove home and did more office work from noon until 4.
  4. Hopped back in the car and went to the post office to mail office work.
  5. Stopped at the gas station and filled the tank in preparation for going to the airport tomorrow.
  6. Went to Safeway and picked up some food so my husband has nourishment during my absence. Not that I think he’s going to whip up dinners, but milk, bananas and cereal should keep him going between restaurants.
  7. Paid bills.
  8. Cleaned the house…when the dogs leave, it’s a golden opportunity to find the hidden fur.  There was enough of it to make another Lab.
  9. Packed.
  10. Made and ate my dinner…pork chop, sweet potato and corn on the cob. 
  11. Cleaned up my dinner.
  12. Ran the dishwasher and put away the clean dishes.
  13. Sorted paperwork and loaded my briefcase.
  14. Backed up my computer that is coming with me.
  15. And, now I am writing this post, and it’s 10 p.m.

I’m happy to report that this will be my last action item of the day.  There is a connection to Weight Watchers in all of my running around.  In the past, when getting ready to go out of town, the list would have been basically the same, except for the part where I was buying food for my husband.  Normally, he is traveling with me.  But, to get through all of this stuff, I would have snacked on thousands of calories of junk food.

As I stood in line to pay in Safeway, I was next to the candy bars.  I looked at them but I wasn’t even tempted.  That’s progress.

Talk to you soon.







Tuesday, August 3, 2010

More math, less points


Back to 31.2 pounds lost based upon a .6 pounds off today.  Time to really kick- start this body.  I came home from my Weight Watchers meeting and immediately re-investigated my target points.  I have been working with 25 points for quite a while, so I decided to recalculate.

My game plan was to pretend that I was 59, which I will be in about four months, and that move shaved one point off my target.  Then, I made myself one pound lighter than I am which knocked me down another point.  So, I am now working with the 23 target points that would have appeared in the next few months.  I have no problem jumping the gun, if it helps the overall goal.

It will be interesting to see if I miss those two points.  I rarely use any of my weekly 35 points and plan to keep it that way.  But, knowing that they are there makes the two- point reduction painless...fingers crossed!  

Talk to you soon.




Monday, August 2, 2010

Heading southeast


I’m getting ready to head out of town to Florida.  This trip, my husband will be holding down the fort in Novato because of work, and I will be meeting up with my sister and dad for five days of family visiting. 

I will be bringing my new bathing suits, in a smaller size, that I bought months ago but haven’t worn yet.  In my backyard pool, I wear the leftover “big ones” since nobody ever sees me.  Now, I will be going to the beach, so I will get to debut the new body in new suits.

I’m also planning on eating a lot of fish.  You can’t go to Florida without getting great seafood and since my husband doesn’t eat fish, I can go wild and eat it for lunch and dinner. 

As I read this, my vacation sounds pretty darn good…beach, seafood, new bathing suits and best of all, new body.  The only thing missing will be my husband.  I won’t let that happen next time.

Talk to you soon.






Sunday, August 1, 2010

Welcome back Hilltop


This evening, our son, Alex, came out to visit, and we tried the new Novato restaurant, Hilltop 1892 that opened about two weeks ago.  Not that Hilltop is really new…it has been sitting perched above Novato for something like 70 years, but has been closed for two years waiting for a new owner to rescue it.

It was a wonderful evening of food and views.  They say you can’t have a restaurant with good views, whether they are ocean or mountain, and still have good food.  Whoever “they are” are not right this time.

I had a pork chop, Brussels sprouts and a mashed white bean resembling mashed potatoes and all of it was very good. I used very few points and walked out feeling “just right.” Both my husband and Alex enjoyed their choices, and we all said we looked forward to returning.

It’s really nice to have this caliber restaurant in our town, and I am already thinking about what Saturday night we will introduce it to our friends.  I studied the whole menu and there are plenty of choices for a Weight Watchers member like me…or you.

Talk to you soon.