Weighty Matters

Another WHEW! moment at weigh-in --- down another 1.2 for a total of 166.6 gone! I did tell the leaders that I wish I could have another 5-pound loss week. I know that's probably not in the future anytime soon, and I'm far from discouraged. I will take every loss, including when it's (ahem) "just" one pound or so. But sometimes it does feel a little .... well, let's just say I enjoy those weeks when I'm working it, and I know it, and it shows on the scales. But again, I'm not discouraged. And I know the going will be much slower as time goes on. I'm rethinking that December 31 time-goal. I will be happy with "by next Easter" to hit goal. There's no stopping me, just revisiting the framework.

I was really sweating this week's weigh-in. I stuck to points. I exercised 4 days (not quite up to my 5-a-week plan, but getting there). Water? Drank TONS of it (as regular water, hot tea, hot cider, Emergen-C, Crystal Light, you name it) over the last two weeks. Veggies & fruits? Check -- usually more than the 5 recommended servings. All the other stuff? Got it. But it just didn't feel like I was working it ..... it's hard to explain. This morning, I checked on the home scale before leaving work. There was a nice loss, so I figured that was a good sign. A couple of weeks ago, on Thursday morning, it was 6 pounds down from my previous total -- and by evening weigh-in, that translated to 3.4 pounds. This morning, it was a smaller loss -- about 3 pounds, so I was thinking about 1 pound total. It was 1.4 lost this week. WOO HOO!!!!!! There was a huge sigh of relief; I was quite happy. Ahhhhh indeed!

I maintained this week. Color me quite happy -- it was a crazy, crazy week at work! Two people out with the flu in my department, a third with a sinus infection and yet another who was out with a back injury. Good planning saved my rear end a couple of times during the week, so I was quite happy to have maintained. In good news, I went shopping today and found a pair of Levi's that fit like a glove. I haven't worn Levi's since childhood. They sure weren't available in plus sizes when I was in high school and college, but they are now. And I tried on another pair of another brand in the same size, and they were actually too loose in the waist -- just enough that it was noticeable. Tomorrow, I plan to spend some time doing some cleaning out. I had planned to clear out more of the clutter of my old clothes that don't fit and now's a good time! WOO HOO!

I was in the grocery store picking up a few necessities: fresh fruit (amazing how quickly that goes!), boneless skinless chicken breasts (a staple of my freezer), and a couple of other little things. While I was in there, I saw my doctor's wife, who's known me ever since I was born. She barely recognized me, and said, "If (she named my cousin) hadn't been telling me how you were doing, and I didn't know you'd lost so much weight -- well, I swear, I wouldn't have known you." THEN coming out of the store, I had just returned the buggy to the outside corral, and I heard, "Nettiemac?" Me: "Yes!" (I didn't recognize the person at first). Him: "Nettiemac Real-last-name?" Me: "Yes!!!!" (like, who else would it be?) It was my former neighbor. I hadn't seen him and his wife in about 5 years. He couldn't believe it. He said, "Oh my God. I only thought it might be you because of the car tag!" I've ...

Last night, I stepped on the scale at weigh-in. I was fairly confident that I had lost SOMETHING, just wasn't sure how much. Our WW scales at home that morning had me down 6 pounds from my previous weigh-in. Turns out it was 3.4 pounds down, putting my total now at 164 even. I have 79 to go. That also puts me over two-thirds of the way to my goal. It is hard to believe. I never imagined life like it is now. Honest. I didn't. I know that sounds like something straight off a commercial for an addictions center, but I swear, it's true. At the very beginning, I had no idea where this would take me or how successful I might (or might not) be. I would not have imagined enjoying exercise -- walking at the office or taking my dog for a walk, even standing for long times. I never thought I could grow to love different kinds of vegetables or find that I enjoyed certain foods. I never imagined I could push a plate away with food still on it and say, "Nah, I'm done" or ev...

In the winter, it's so hard to find good quality fresh veggies that don't cost a fortune. Just yesterday, I paid two bucks for ONE green pepper. Normally, in the summer, those are 50 cents each. That's the price to be paid for eating out of season, but dadgum! So I turn to frozen bagged or boxed veggies. For months, I have been using the Green Giant Just for One broccoli/cheese sauce trays -- very tasty, and only 1 point per tray. I've also been using the Birdseye SteamFresh Singles for the supersweet corn. Oh so good, and again, only one point per bag. But there are times I want something more than just the standards: broccoli, peas, carrots, green beans, corn, etc. I love French-cut green beans but usually I can only find those as canned. UNTIL --- I found Cascadian Farm Organic French-Cut Green Beans with Toasted Almonds . Two servings per box and only 1 point per serving (a generous 2/3 cup). Not only is it delicious just for the green beans alone, but you get the a...