Weighty Matters

You can (if you are supremely bored) go over to my Meanderings & Musings blog and read all about my travails today with my MP3 player. Trust me, I ought to print it up as the cure for insomnia. But I do have a new playlist worked up! I will comment only on the newer songs I have added -- I thought of a few others, and took out most of the undecideds. ABC (Jackson 5) -- oh, like you didn't see this one coming after this weekend. Ain't Wasting Time No More Alive & Kicking All Fired Up All Over the World (ELO) -- Well, I was going through my list and thought it would be good enough for both walking and for biking. Are You Ready? Batdance (Prince) -- yeah, it's a little long and shifting tempos, but I was listening to it a few times this weekend and thinking "Why not?" Born to Run Brand New Lover Break My Stride (Matthew Wilder) -- a song I had forgotten I even had in the ol' library. Well worth the addition. Cool the Engines Easy Lover (Philip Bailey w/P...

It's definitely time to shake up the workout routine --- I have a feeling I am going to become much better acquainted with Butt-Crack O'Dawn. I especially like BCOD this time of year; in the winter, she becomes a real witch. And it's also time to shake up my workout music. I haven't really done much to the ol' MP3 player in ages. I've added a few new songs here and there, but it's time to go through the songs I have on there and prune out what isn't working, what I'm so tired of that I automatically hit forward, and what is getting me moving these days. So in order by title: (Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again - LTD: Gone . It's been on there forever, and I like the song, but I am beyond tired of it. (Get Up I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine - James Brown: Gone . Ditto. A Man I'll Never Be - Boston: Gone . Love the song, and ever since Brad Delp's untimely death, it's taken on a greater poignancy for me. But workout-friendly ...

Hallelujah, I lost!!! It wasn't much, "just" 0.4 pounds, but after the last two weeks any loss is a good one. My leader also gave me a great idea for some exercise to help with the continuing loss to get back to goal: stationary bike, 3-4x a week (at least 3, aim for 4). I know from doing it just one day this week, it kicked my rear six different ways to Sunday. And the added benefit is extra activity points for it.... which I am NOT going to use for fuel. Also, as a follow-up on the medical front: I went to the doctor this week and they drew blood for some labwork. I'll know the results by Monday. Either way -- whether the results are normal or abnormal -- there will need to be some sort of treatment plan. Once I know the results, then I'll figure out where we go from here, physically and otherwise. I really want this to come off. I have worked too hard for this, and I am going to work just as hard to keep it off. It's just really frustrating to have your b...

I am up. Badly. Over 3 pounds, to bring me to almost 5 pounds above goal -- YIKES!!!! So my leader and I have determined that my old points level is probably going to be the one that works best for me. I am not upset because I know that I followed the program, I exercised 5 out of the 7 days, and I'm most likely retaining water -- easily fixed. But what has me really upset about it is that my body seems to be playing some tricks on me that it hasn't before. As I mentioned in a few posts back (TMI alert), I'm having some issues that are probably hormonal in nature. I am closely monitoring this situation so that I can go back to my doctor and say, "Listen, something is not right, what can we do to fix this?" I'm 39 ..... old enough that it's a possibility but still too young for the Big M. I really do not want to have to do HRT at all, if I can avoid it. I also don't trust the compounded or bio-identical things because I am not sure how safe they are. No...

Well, it was an interesting afternoon...... we had a big cell of quick, intense thunderstorms come through the area about 4:00 yesterday. What does that have to do with my weigh-in? Well, it knocked out power to the WW center. Luckily, the receptionist happened to have a battery-operated scale with her -- they're usually used for WW-At-Work meetings. It said I was up 1.2 pounds. Okay, not bad considering I added 4 daily points back to my plan, and I'm still within range of being at goal. But this week, I am adjusting my daily points from +4 to +3 and seeing what happens. The cool thing about maintenance is that you get to play a little with what's going to work for you. We had our meeting in the dark. Now.... oddly enough, Jason's Deli had full power. The server said that the power just blipped long enough to knock the lights off. ODD! It's almost right in front of the WW center (faces the delivery door), and close enough that you could sling a frisbee and hit the d...

On Friday afternoon, I sent an e-mail to my coworkers to tell them about me reaching goal -- so many of them have been through this entire process with me, and I wanted them to share in my joy. Here are some of their responses: You are so inspirational, (Nettiemac)! Congratulations!!! Wow! Congratulations!!! I would say I’d take you to lunch to celebrate but do you still eat? It sure doesn’t look like it! My papa used to say “Honey, you’re gonna blow away come the next breeze”. Seriously, that’s amazing. Congratulations again! You’re truly inspirational! I am SO PROUD of you! You are truly an inspiration for everyone and not just when it comes to weight loss. I am proud of your accomplishments, even though the battle is just beginning. I know you will have the strength and will power to overcome all obstacles and meet all the goals you set for yourself! Congratulations you worked hard, you make us other "Libertarians" proud (note: in this case, not the political pa...

I'm still wrapping my mind around the concept of what has happened. I'm enjoying the 4 extra points on Maintenance but trying to actually get in the groove of using them. Is that not bizarre? Imagine -- me, the girl who still loves to eat (but do so wisely), fighting the idea of more food?!?! Crazy! Saturday, I skipped exercise because my Friday exercise was pretty late in the day, and I had to get up early to be at the 8:00 AM meeting at the local center (substitute receptionist). Then I got up yesterday morning and walked at 6:00 AM. It was a good walk, with a nice temperature. I think I can (gasp!) get used to those early morning walks. Yes, another "imagine" moment -- the girl who loves sleep like a fat kid loves chocolate cake is actually willing and ready to sacrifice morning sleep for a good walk. On Saturday, my family and I went out to dinner. As we were standing outside the restaurant, I caught a reflection of myself in the windowpane. Holy mackerel. Again, ...

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!! It took 3 years and 3 weeks, but I am finally 44% of the woman I was on May 11, 2006. When I started the journey, this day was not even in sight. All I could honestly think about was how to take those first steps to get through the first day and the first week. I had no idea how I was supposed to do 5 minutes a day of activity, when it took all I could do to put one foot in front of the other. But if nothing else, once I make up my mind to do something.......... Here it is, June 4, 2009. I am 228 pounds lighter and a quadrillion times better. I made it through that first day, that first week just fine. I did the 5 minutes -- okay, really 10 minutes, all huffing and puffing and barely able to walk out two blocks and back. Then 20, then 30, and joined the Y, and ..... got the dog and had to walk him. Then said, "I can do a 5K." And then watched my race time improve each time I tried. In losing 228 pounds, I have gained so much. I wasn't e...