Catch up

What’s been going on with me?  I disappeared for a while and need to get you back up-to-date on my comings and goings.

On Tuesday, I sat on a conference call that ran so long that I ended up missing my meeting.  I was dressed, wearing my running shoes, which in my case are used for walking, and watched the clock ticking away.  Needless to say, I was disappointed and don't really know if I gained or lost weight.  I'm going to assume I did neither.

That same evening, I did get some activity points in as my husband and I walked Moscone Center and visited the Car Show.  It is an annual ritual for my husband and one of his friends and I was the “tag along.”  I always forget how big that convention center is and was glad I was still wearing my running/walking shoes.

Yesterday, I made it through Thanksgiving with no issues.  We visited out friends and enjoyed a lovely turkey dinner that involved no cooking on my part and very little clean-up.  It was a day to catch up on stories and to see people that we don’t see very often.  I knew going into it that I would be fine and emerged victorious and with points to spare.

And now, it’s already Friday and I don’t have to worry about what to do with leftovers.  We have none.  So, it’s business as usual in the kitchen, and that makes life just a little easier.

I’m counting down the days until next Tuesday’s meeting.  The new program is so close I can taste it.   I’m expecting great results and looking forward to mastering the new system. 

Until then, it’s tracking as usual…which is on auto-pilot for me.

Talk to you soon.

Pro Points...can't come too soon!

It’s time for the new program…I’m getting antsy to see what it’s all about and more importantly, how it will help me.  I’m up one pound this week, and it feels like I’m stuck in a rut.

I am not whining or getting crazy over this stuff.  I know that going to the meetings, being part of a support group and following the plan is still an enjoyable part of my life.  I just want to get back to the part of dropping pounds.  I know it’s just around the corner and in 14 days, I’ll get the details.

Meanwhile, it was a Costco day for me…lots of fruit and a turkey.  I decided to test drive Thanksgiving this week with a small turkey and will be whipping it up tomorrow evening.  It’s great that the traditional holiday meal is a turkey and not a cake.  It works much better with the point system…both the current one and what I envision the new Pro Points one will look like on November 30^th.  Let’s see if I’m right.

Talk to you soon.

Around the world...while losing weight

I think I’m going to make this blog a combination of losing weight and travel.  It seems like all I do lately is eat in restaurants, because I am on the road.  And, it’s not going to change in the foreseeable future.  I figured out that I’m gone one week each month between now and next April, so I better start planning for it.

I’m home now, however, and I don’t get nervous about holiday eating, even though it’s just around the corner.  None of us got overweight from eating Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s what happens after that dinner that sets the tone for weight gain or loss, and I believe I have conquered the potential problem after over a year in the program.  For me, Thanksgiving is another day of eating on program and rewarding myself by enjoying my family and friends who will share it with me.

I also look forward to learning about the new Weight Watchers program that will unveil itself for me on Tuesday, November 30^th…just two short weeks away.  I like the concepts that I have been reading online and think that “shaking it up” a bit will be a pleasant change.

Now, back to talking about travel.  I visited my sister in Los Angeles for a few days and part of the visit includes visiting restaurants that we like and introducing one new restaurant to the mix.  This time, we tried Mastros, a place in Beverly Hills that is known for its steaks. 

I had the petite filet mignon, which was about four ounces after it was cooked, and sides, for which they are known, of garlic mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese.  Three of us shared each of those sides and most of them went home as leftovers, so it was the equivalent of a spoonful of each for me.

I think that the only part of restaurant dining that bugs me is the amount of salt that is added to the food when it is prepared.  I can control most of what goes on in the grilling and butter department, but the salt just seems to be there.  And, after eating, I generally feel like I have expanded proportionate to the chef’s “heavy” hand.  Don’t get me wrong, it tastes great, and I know it doesn’t add points.  I just don’t like the feeling. And, I definitely try to avoid the restaurants the night before a weigh-in.

So, time to make dinner…at my house.

Talk to you soon.

Rumors from the land of the Royals

There were two of us at Weight Watchers today…I was one of them and our meeting leader, Claudette, was the other one.  I had another appointment that prevented me from attending the actual meeting, but because we can get weighed-in starting at 8 a.m., I was there early.  It was a bit weird to be the only member in the room, but I got the job done.

I lost another .4 pounds.  Now, let’s review the math.  I went away for three weeks on business and vacation and gained 2.6 pounds.  I have been back for two weeks and have lost one pound.  So, it will probably take me about six weeks to get back to where I was before I went away.  I am not fond of that ratio.

I noticed a message on my Weight Watchers e-Tool about something new that is coming soon.  Once I’m teased that way, I have to do a little Google research to see what I can find.  I have found out that a new plan is coming to us on November 29^th and that it was introduced in the United Kingdom this week.

I am looking forward to learning all about it.  The rumor mill is churning, and it seems like fruit will become a no point option.  But, you know rumors…especially the ones coming out of the United Kingdom.  I’ve been waiting for that royal wedding of Prince William and his girlfriend for years.  Rumor has it that it’s coming next year…I’m not holding my breath.

Talk to you soon.

Magical pants

Last evening, my husband and I got to put on our “fancy clothes” and attended the Hospice of Marin Gala.  As I was getting ready, it dawned on me that I hadn’t gotten dressed up since starting Weight Watchers.

I didn’t run out and invest in a new outfit.  I planned to put together something from my existing wardrobe, but didn’t really know what it was going to look like.  Living in Marin and not being part of the social scene, it’s not often that I need to figure out what’s in the “dressy” part of my closet.

About 15 years ago, I bought black “chiffony” evening pants that look like a cross between pants and a skirt.  I pull them out when I need to put together a special look.  I have a laugh every time I wear them because they have elastic in the back and a hook on the side and stretch or shrink to fit my weight.

During my heaviest times, they feel like I am wearing a tourniquet.  Last evening, they almost fell off.  I pulled them up, discreetly, every time I walked a few steps.  Needless to say, I was thrilled.

As I continue my weight loss journey, there are items of clothing that have to be sacrificed along the route.  I think my evening pants will be heading out soon.  I will miss them, so I’ll be on the lookout for a new smaller version.  Any clothing item that lasts over a decade is a hit in my book.

Talk to you soon.

When up is down

It didn’t start out the way I thought it would.  I walked to Weight Watchers for the first time since I sprained my ankle 10 weeks ago and looked forward to seeing a loss on the scale.  If you remember, last week I gained 2.6 pounds after three weeks of travel and restaurant dining.

I got on the scale to be disappointed at a .2-pound gain.  How could that have happened…I walked back to my seat and found myself distracted and thinking about this surprise.  And then it dawned on me that I had forgotten to take off my shoes and my jacket when I got on the scale.  I had been chatting with the woman who weighed me in and totally missed my usual clothing removal exercise.

I got back out of my seat, went back to the scale and did my weigh-in properly.  I lost .6 pounds this week and was back to feeling in control.  All records were corrected, and I left the meeting knowing that I had another two pounds to get rid of to be back to where I was a month ago.

I did walk 3.75 miles today, including a stop off to vote on the way home from my meeting.  I also am pleased to report that I have candy to send to the troops and want to thank my fellow Weight Watchers friends for bringing it to the meeting.

Talk to you soon.

Need more candy...please!

We started Halloween with 70 mini- candy bars, and I figured that I would end it with at least half of them.  Last year, we had about a dozen Trick or Treaters appear at our door.  Boy, was I wrong.  We blew through that candy in about 30 minutes when groups of 10-15 children showed up at once.

It got to the point where I switched to Nature Valley Granola Bars just to finish up with part of a group that was going to get nothing.  I’m sure that the reaction to my healthy Halloween snack was the same as the one I had about 50 years ago when somebody gave me two pennies instead of candy.

Once the end had come, of the candy that is, my husband made our house “go black.”  All lights, both inside and out, were turned off and we sat in silence watching the end of the Giants game.  We cheered quietly.

Tomorrow is Weight Watchers, and I expected to be the lead-off batter with the leftover candy that I will be sending overseas to the troops.  Now, I have no candy, so please collect up all of yours and bring it to the meeting.  I promise to buy some more to add to it, so that the box is chock full of goodies.

Talk to you soon.