The Holiday Within Me

So, the day after Easter and all the holiday goodies meets with back to work and a somewhat regular schedule. I weighed in 1/2 pound down this morning. I wonder how that happened? Today I made some not-so-great food choices (cookie and chips) at Jimmy Johns. I worked out - it wasn't pretty but I got it done. Now, on the stove is a yummy ham and corn frittata. The recipe comes from a new food site a friend told me about - Meal Eaze.com. I'll post later how the recipe turned out. The calories are reasonable. Let's just hope it tasts good! I am working things out in my head to make food/exercise a part of my regular schedule. This needs to be something I do everyday despite everything else. I am hopeful, but know that I will have to remember to recommit each Monday!

Holidays and weight loss

I have finished the grocery list for this weekend's Easter feast. I have carefully planned my own meals for the week as well as those of my family members - including two who are gluten-free. It takes a lot to meal plan for many different dietary needs, but I truly do it because I love it. However, as our family begins to prepare for the holiday and all the yumminess that it provides I know I am going to struggle to make good choices. Yesterday, for instance, I chose to skip the workout in order to get things organized for all that I have to do this weekend. Good excuse right? Ha Ha! Just ask me, I can make an excuse for almost anything! So, on my mind is food and how to make the most of it. I will try. I will make the holiday about the holiday and not about the food. I will enjoy feeding family and friends and not myself! This is my goal!

Just another Wind Down Wednesday

So, today was my monthly meeting with "the girls".  I love these meetings - time with girls, sewing, chatting, eating and drinking - more importantly however is the sharing, laughing, crying and supporting. We all have a something. Something that makes us sad, happy, stressed, exhausted or just makes us. These are the girls I know will be there with me no matter what happens. The downside of these monthly meetings is the wonderful food we all enjoy. Cheese, crackers, chips, pizza, wine and of course this week there were Whoopie Pies and Cupcakes because it was a party! Ahhhhh - I love my girls and all that we share. I need to practice sharing just a little less of the food.

Can I really get stuck in a dress?

So, while trying on dresses last night to find something flattering for Easter I found myself actually stuck in a dress! A bit of panic rose up as I contemplated my options. My daughter had abandoned me to find some things for herself and my husband had left the store altogether to find more enjoyment in buying dog food than trying to wait for his wife to find the "perfect" outfit. I took a few breaths, thought about my choices and worked ever so carefully to slowly remove the obviously  mis-sized dress! Whew!
Today was a day of successes! I was met first thing with fresh donuts in the teachers' lounge (a place of constant delectable temptations). I quickly moved through the lounge with my fresh strawberries in hand and headed to the solitude of my classroom. Not an hour later I was back in the lounge for a meeting and faced once again with those donuts! I chose instead some Sugar Free Hot Chocolate - since apparently Spring is never coming. I stayed on my plan for the rest of the day and am recovering from Self Magazine's Drop 10 Challenge workout. My legs are a little shaky and I think my arms might be sore tomorrow but that is good news! Two days of success and I feel like a champion.

Another Day, Another Pound

So, we traveled over the weekend and as much as I had planned to remain careful and not eat junk food, I caved at the first opportunity. It is like I am truly sabotaging myself! How can I keep doing this to myself? So, here it is another Monday and I am back at it. Great breakfast (Jillian's bacon and eggs) and strawberries, almonds for a snack, Chicken Salad and Greek yogurt for lunch, cheese stick after school and a stuffed chicken breast for dinner. Yum right? Well, the plan almost worked. I came home and was STARVING! Yeah right!!! I grabbed a Clif Builder Bar which in the big scheme could have been a lot worse and now I am heading to a workout so... perhaps the day won't be a total wash. I will just keep starting, even if I never really finish.

April 12

So, as I begin the process of combining writing with weight loss, I wonder which will benefit the most. I continue to crave the food that increases the numbers on the scale and don't so much crave the exercise that would reduce them.  Does anyone else know that what they are doing on one hand harms the other? Why do we do this to ourselves? On the writing side of the balance, I am looking forward to having an outlet for words - perhaps the words could be the substitute for the food... something to think about. Any thoughts on this?