Weighty Matters

It's been a tough two weeks. I've had a couple of small gains which haven't really added up to much.... except that they are gains --- UGH!!! I tell myself that it is the busy season, and this is true. Between musical events -- 3 different concerts/performances, just as many choir practices, plus our yearly caroling/party -- and being chained to my desk with work (reports, reports, reports, and ... oh yeah, did I mention reports?)..... No excuses, though. I could have done something better, differently, etc. But I'm proud. Last year at this time, I was in the middle of a massive pity party, table of one. And I was definitely bellying up to the bar. For example, at last year's caroling party, I had one of everything. No, really, I mean it. THEN went back for seconds on "favorites" ..... this year, way more picky. It was like, "If I can make it at home, anytime I want, then do I want to eat it here?" Yeah, that put a kibbosh on a peanut butter ...

At this time last year, I was going through lots of medical tests, and in general having a big ol' pity party, table for one. And it was around this time that I began to succumb to the Holiday Death Spiral. If it was on a table to be consumed, I was going to have some. Yes, I know better. No, I wasn't hungry. No, I really shouldn't have had three of them, but it was just too darn tasty. I only get these around this time of year. I'm so busy I don't have time to hit the gym. It's the holidays - I'll start fresh in January. I had every excuse. And then in January, a serious health scare and my only consolation was food. Yes, I knew better. I was falling into a death spiral 36 years in the making and only recently "conquered." This year, I do not want to fall into that trap again. I do not want to go backward in my progress. I'm havi g enough trouble dealing with some continuing health/medication issues that are playing around with my...

I admit that I have become a junkie when it comes to reading up on the advances that science is finding about the human body, especially as it relates to food and fitness. I know, some of that is from my own experiences and some comes from working in the industry (even part-time), but the ones that fascinate me most are the psychological studies in both fields. I like the physiological ones -- how food reacts in the body or how exercise affects the body, or the processes involved with each. But sometimes the biggest challenges (and opportunities) are found in our minds. For instance, just a few weeks ago, I learned about studies on "hedonic hunger" ..... eating when we aren't hungry because we have somehow responded to a cue. It could be visual (such as an ad on TV) or olfactory  (passing by a Cinnabon and inhaling. Deeply.), or even something as simple as "Hey, let's go get Chinese!" And suddenly, the fact that you JUST had a satisfying snack of something...

If I had any misgivings (wouldn't call it a regret) about the time I was in my weight-loss process, is that I feel like it almost happened a little too quickly. I had a bounceback over the last year and now I am working to get those last few back off. This time, however, instead of a race to see how fast I can do this, I want to be sure that I get it off and keep it off, even if I have setbacks or plateaus along the way. So I've been back on track for about 3 months now, and I've lost just over 10 pounds in that time. That's an average of 3 pounds a month, 0.8 pounds per week (more or less). I remember a time that I'd fuss over that figure, thinking a more reasonable expectation would have 10 pounds the first month and then maybe 5 each additional month. This time, I hold myself to a different standard: consistency.

I will post more about my trip to the Virginia Creeper Trail a little later, but I found this beautiful thought earlier this morning, and felt I needed to share it................. And while the scale gives us feedback, it can never, ever define who we are. Get Off The Scale! You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance. Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life. It’s true, the scale can only give you a numerical refle...

Throughout my life I have been a voracious reader, but the last couple of years, it has taken me forever to get through books. I keep ordering them and getting them at used bookstores (I know, what is WRONG with me - I can't even finish the ones I have!), but....... anyway, the latest one that I am so very slowly making my way through is Brene Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection . It's an excellent book so far, I just would like an uninterrupted afternoon to make my way through it. More on that to come. One of the things that she mentions in there is people who constantly just dig deep when the going is tough and they've hit the wall but they just keep on going. Of course, she goes on to say, but what do you do when that doesn't work, and redefines DIG. I won't give her secrets away here (but really, get the book: it is good!). I thought about that in my own life. I am blessed that I have been gifted with a DIG DEEP bone. Did I always use this gift? Are you ki...

First off, apologies: I didn't realize I hadn't posted at all in September -- WOW! It was definitely a busy month, so I'll try to be better about this in October..... *** 52 weeks ago today: The Great Earth Fare Swoon. Oddly enough, I am just as busy today as I was that day in October 2011.... so much to do, so much to do. In fact, some of the same: Monarchs meeting, choir practice, only this time it's not a day off and I have a lot to do at work today. What has transpired in this year is unlike anything I would have ever imagined. More medical appointments than I would have ever guessed. A scare that kept me in terror for about 2 months, only to find that there was nothing there at all. Lots of work stress and lots of home stress. New medicines and consistent monitoring. And a rebound on my weight that I would never have wished on anyone. What have I learned? A temporary setback is no reason to throw a pity party..... and from last October on, I was having myse...

After last week's setback, I was determined not to fall into a funk but to just keep plowing on, and to keep going. And YAHOOEY! did it pay off -- I lost all that increase from last week and a little more!! I might have even had more but I enjoyed some really, really good ribs on Sunday with some friends....definitely worth the splurge! So what's the plan this week? Same as this week. Same as last week. Keep tracking, keep moving, keep making more good decisions than bad ones. Keep breathing -- deeply, purposefully, mindfully. Keep listening to what my body is telling me -- I'm hungry; no, I'm good; ow! that hurt; I'm feeling good, let's do 2 more minutes!........ And success will come.

because holy Moses, according to the scale, I not only fell from Grace, but probably on her as well. It said I had gained back everything. Okay, whatev. I am choosing not to believe the scale. Did I do everything right? No..... primarily in that while the week before was Shark Week, this was Manatee Week (as in water-retaining sea cow, thank you Jeff Foxworthy!) I didn't always make the best choice in that I ate more processed food than I should have. Worst was when I made a great recipe with a higher-sodium ingredient that I normally would have. And while there's no pressing physical or medical need for me to control my sodium (hypertension, etc.), the cardiac history in my families is enough to make me try to watch it as much as possible..... that and one of my meds might lead to retention. Que sera, sera. But I'm more proud of my non-scale victories, of the things I did right. I worked out. I tracked every day, including the times I went into the weekly points allo...

Okay, stats for this week, down 3.2 more! WAHOO!!!! Planning does pay off, huh? Who'd a-thunk, right? So..... I was sitting at the meeting this week and speaking with another member. She mentioned that she'd heard part of my story, and as we were talking, she said, "Wow, I bet your numbers at the doctor's office went way down." I said, "Well, I don't know..... my numbers were usually pretty good to begin with, no hypertension, no diabetes, none of the usual things. But then again, I didn't go for annual physicals, just whenever I needed to. I hated the doctor's office." She looked puzzled and I said, "Well, if I'm in there with a cough, I'm not there to be told that I need to go on a diet." She nodded, laughed and said, "Yeah, true....." I hated the thought of going to a doctor's office, knowing they were going to put me on a scale. It finally reached the point that I simply said, "I'd rather not, ...

This thought occurred to me just a few moments ago, and I knew that if I didn't put it down SOMEWHERE, I would forever forget it...... and it actually made me stop what I was doing long enough to really think about it. Knowing what it takes to succeed is not the same as being aware that you have what it takes to succeed. If you're reading this, stop. Go back. Re-read the bold print. Slowly. Carefully. (Proofread for me, if you'd like.) Welcome to my reality prior to May 2006. I knew  what it took to lose weight. I had every diet book (except low-carb stuff) on the shelf. I could read, absorb knowledge, and on occasion, attempt to put those things into practice. I. KNEW. This. Stuff. But I didn't know my stuff. I didn't know that I had in me what it would take to lose the weight...... okay, scratch that. I wasn't aware that I had what it took. It was buried deep enough that I hadn't discovered it yet. One day, when I opened myself up to the possibil...

This week, I decided that I was important. Okay, allow me to rephrase a little. I decided that I was important enough to stop letting other people and other forces to control my time and energy. I'm not sure how I managed to cede that power over to them, but it doesn't matter, really. What matters is that I take it back. So the haphazard, harried nature that my life has become must now cease. Tombstoning it, baby. A little more order is in order. A little more control over my choices, my time, my energies, with just enough flexibility for those little curveballs you're so fond of zinging toward me. I decide what. I decide when. I decide where, who, why, how. Some of those elements may not be within my power to control, but I'm claiming the ones that are possible within a particular situation. It is time for me to reclaim my life. For the last year, it's been everyone else's schedule -- when they can fit me in, or when I can squeeze in a moment for this t...

Okay - forgive the delay in my post this week. I'm finally back among the land of the living for several reasons. Mostly, that old devil Senor Migraine tried to kill me off several times last week. That's a whole post in itself. So how did Sheri and I do on our bike ride? Completely. Kicked. It. We met at 5:00 AM at the appointed place, her sweet patient husband following behind us, and headed on the road. About 3 miles in, I noticed something odd about my bike.... seems that the gear shifts were moving toward me. There was a little something loose but we fixed it as best we could. That held out until about five miles into the trip -- and one hour into the 2:15 we had allotted for ourselves (yeah, rut-roh Raggy!). Sheri graciously offered to switch bikes with me, since she had on riding gloves and could easily provide more resistance to the turning of the handlebar. It was also an eye-opener for both of us in bike differences. She has a hybrid cruiser, mine is more of a...

I was up again (yes, that was the scream you heard late Tuesday afternoon).... but only minimally. But then my friend MH, the receptionist, said something afterwards that made me say, "Well, DUH! Why didn't I make the connection?" She asked what kind of activity I had done and I said, "Well, I didn't yesterday, I had a massage, but usually on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I lift weights....." MH said, "Um, you know, I had much better luck doing yoga on Monday instead of weights...." And it clicked. DUH......... Glycogen. Nasty, nasty glycogen that holds 4-5 times its weight in water! Alllllll day Tuesday, after a Monday strength training session, it just takes in whatever I send its way.... or sucks it right out of my cells and hangs on for life. She may be on to something there. But I'll be danged if this is gonna beat me!! **** This past Sunday morning, I had my first practice run for our bike trek. Sheri and I covered 7.5 miles. My...

Okay, for the weight stuff: up a bit but not concerned. I know I had some issues with water retention and with being on exercise restriction (except for walking). I'm off restriction as of Friday -- did a killer workout that day, I've been tracking well, and I know that come Tuesday, at least some of the gain (if not all) will be gone. It's all cool. So my plan was to do some biking last night, some yoga and maybe a little more biking today..... POOF! It was all just a dream, apparently, because all  I did this weekend was sleep. Okay, granted, I've been a wee bit sleep-deprived watching my SC Gamecocks in the College World Series (come on babies, let's 3peat!)....especially since night games = ratings bonanza (really, ESPN? 9:00 starts?)  But in general, I've  just been plain sleep-deprived. Again. I had planned to do some cleaning this weekend but yesterday afternoon, sleep came calling first ..... and stayed for about 2 hours. Same dang thing this afterno...

Last week was a not-too-good weigh-in. I was up, and I had a feeling I would be that day .... I woke up feeling puffy and yucky. But that just made me determined to work it off. I had a follow-up with my doctor on Wednesday, and I mentioned that I had eaten some higher-sodium foods and then...... she replied, "Oh yeah, that is one of the things with this type of HRT; you will really have to watch your sodium or you will definitely retain water." Since I'm already trying to watch it as much as possible, now I know I really have to. So I worked this past week to do my best. I had one splurge meal on the weekend, but glad I had those 49 extra weekly PP allowance to help...... and come Tuesday, I was down over FOUR pounds!!! :) Who says tracking doesn't work? That and lots of liquids. And I am trying yet another new fitness routine. I had gotten The New Rules of Lifting  and as much as I like it (a lot!), it isn't a program for weight loss. I needed a routine that...

....and for that, I apologize. Lots of reasons, none of which really amount to much in the long run. I am working to get back on track, and I have started by getting back to a weekly meeting. I found one that works best with my schedule, and I am doing my very best not to miss! Over three of the last four weeks, I'd had losses -- small ones, but still with the MINUS in front of them. This week, no. But I know what happened and will correct it. I feel hopeful again..... And with that, I'm up for some challenges -- good challenges, that is! 1) Weight Watchers' LifeLiveActive -- just started last week and goes through July 14. I am also taking part in a challenge with myself and my working leader (as opposed to my meeting leader) .... we're biking to work on the last morning of the LLA campaign!!! And as of just a few moments ago, I am 95% on the way to procuring a real-live bike for myself for this..... keep in mind, I haven't owned a bicycle (other than a statio...

Since I cannot print a copy for everyone I meet.......   and I'm just as guilty, being a "desk jockey" ..... Via: Medical Billing And Coding

Today, I had the great honor of hosting the opening event for the Grand Opening of the new Weight Watchers Store in Greenville...... I am thrilled to be one of the chefs for our territory, and so today I hosted "Appetizers with Annette" (my real name - for those who don't know me personally). I am so grateful for the opportunity to combine two things I love -- preparing food and sharing ways to make food healthy and tasty, and meeting new members! The recipes I made today: Pumpkin Curry Hummus (from Diane Morgan's "Skinny Dips" -- www.dianemorgancooks.com) 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), minced 1 Tbsp curry powder 1 1/2 Tbsp honey 15 oz can cooked chickpeas, drained, rinsed 15 oz canned pumpkin 1 1/2 tsp ginger root, finely minced/grated 1 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 Tbsp pumpkin and squash seeds (unhulled) In a small nonstick frying pan, over medium heat, warm the oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the garlic and saute just u...

The virus (thank God) has finally left me -- without affecting another single soul in the household. Go figure. It just didn't like me...... My back, however, is still not quite 100% again. I had a fantastic massage on Monday night which worked most of the kinks out ..... and 30 minutes in the recliner on Tuesday morning undid most of it. UGH!!! At least I have another chiropractic appointment this week. Unfortunately, until I'm able to move 90% of the time without pain or discomfort, I'm not picking back up my weightlifting routine. I don't want to make the problem worse! I've moved my weigh-ins to Tuesday night, at least for a while. It's more a psychological thing. For years on end, my tracking began on Friday and ended on Thursday. Then as I've not been in meetings (except to work them) for about a year, I've gotten off routine  .... weighing on Saturday mornings but beginning my tracking on Monday (why?). Well, I don't mind starting the trac...

Picture it: South Carolina, Monday morning after Easter. The alarm went off early. My gym bag waited at the door, and I was looking forward to starting Workout 3A of this new program I was doing. Instead, I awoke to this weird feeling. Honestly, my first thought was, "Holy cow, did I overdo it yesterday! No, wait, I really didn't, but ooooog it feels like I did." Within 5 minutes, I was absolutely sick as a dog. My first thought after that was, "Oh God, please don't let it be food poisoning!" (Especially since I  had cooked Easter dinner!) Nope, not that ..... a stomach virus. A wicked, vicious, vile, awful, stomach virus. I didn't know it then but by a couple of hours later, I surely did. And the only upside to the whole event was that I lost 5+ pounds easy. I didn't even have a point of reference (since I hadn't weighed in at work on Saturday), but I knew it was a substantial amount. I wanted to lose, but not quite like that! Then on We...

I don't know him from Adam, but I promise you that Mr. Cosgrove is indeed out to end my life. Who is Alwyn Cosgrove, you ask? He is one of three authors of The New Rules of Lifting for Women  ... he came up with the workouts. I am only on Stage 1, Workout B-1, but oh my...... see, Stage 1, Workout A-1 was crazy enough. As many squats as I've done, and they hurt like hell this time. In fact, I'm still feeling the effects of these when I went to work out today. The plan is to workout no less than two and no more than three times in a week, so that you take a rest for about 48 hours, then work out again..... I'm thinking 72 hours rest right now..... because I actually was still sore from Tuesday's workout when I did today's workout. But I can't wait to see the results. This entire plan is about 6-8 months worth of workouts, getting progressively stronger and better. That is something that I can totally get behind! If I survive Stage 1......

Finally. It seems that for the first time in many months, I can breathe again. As y'all know, it's been an insane life since about mid-July. The role in the play was wonderful, but I allowed it to become an excuse for a bad spiral -- I didn't have time to really take care of myself, but I'll catch up later. Then came the slew of medical things in September and October ..... and again, another excuse for not really giving myself my full attention. Then the job changes starting in November and continuing through now -- the real spiral acceleration. And more medical stuff starting in January -- and the "woe is me, life sucks" thing continued. But in the last two weeks, I have gotten a reprieve medically, and yesterday, I finally began a treatment regimen that we were going to begin last fall (before we needed to discover why I had passed out ... and  we still don't know!). I have a teensy suture on my hiney where the medicine was inserted (and OH is it te...

Again, I apologize for my silence recently. Work has been incredibly busy, and by the time I attend to that, myself, and a few other things, really deep blogging has a tendency to be put off again and again. First, for the good news: I have the all-clear. I had an MRI on the 25th, followed by a consultation on the 29th at which Dr. Y-2 said that they found NOTHING. Okay, they found a benign cyst elsewhere (nowhere near the trouble spot) and so I'll discuss that with my doctors this week. I cannot wait to get to their offices, and begin getting my life straightened out. The last five months have been an exercise in many things, especially in patience. But where it might have done much for my spirituality, it's taken a big toll on my weight maintenance. Now that I know that I'm not facing any potential treatments or otherwise, I can finally focus again on the external me (so to speak). I'm sitting here with "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" in hand. I...

Sorry everyone! Real life has intervened (or is it interfered?) for a while, and may continue to do so, but we'll see what transpires as time goes on. I'm still working on the medical stuff .... still not quite solved, but that's okay, we're getting there. Thorough is good; at least that's what I keep saying to myself as I wait, and wait. I'm not terribly patient, though....... Yesterday morning, I woke up with an incredibly sore neck. Not a pain, and not any specific area ... just an all-over feeling, kind of like you just didn't sleep on it correctly. I sat all through church trying to stretch my neck in all directions to try to get the kinks worked out, and nothing was helping. I'm way overdue for a chiropractic adjustment -- had to postpone my appointment due to all the other stuff. But I wasn't going to spend my day all knotted up either. It occurred to me that nearly a year ago, I'd purchased a series of four yoga classes from a nearby pl...

First off, an apology. I just forgot to do a post last week, and then this week, some events transpired that were way more important than a blog post. Nothing I really want to go into detail on at this time, or in this space. Now..... Yesterday, we had national Open House Day for Weight Watchers, and I was thrilled to be asked to lead a cooking demo for our location. I love to cook. I'm not a pro by any means, but there's something about being in a kitchen and preparing delicious, nutritious food that just makes me happy. Since our meeting is early morning, I thought I would prepare a brunch-type food from our new "Power Foods" cookbook. And I had the perfect one: Cheddar and Veggie Frittata. And in one word: yum. Actually, to use several words: (throw head back and roll eyes just a bit) oh my stars, this is SO good (followed by muffled chewing sounds interspersed with a bunch of mmm's). Really, you can't go wrong with a basic frittata recipe like that. As ...

All I am going to say is I am glad 2012 is here. 2011 was not the best year for me, in terms of weight -- some due to issues out of my control, and just as much fully within my control. I am taking control back where I can, leaving to God what I cannot control, and choosing my battles more wisely. In about 2 weeks, I will begin treatment for the endocrine imbalances, and I cannot wait to see how this will affect my health and my life. I hope that it will put everything back to levels it needs to be for all my systems. I hope that it gets me out of this sleep debt mode that I've been living in for an eternity. I joke that if the Grateful Dead were to rewrite "Truckin'" for me, it would be "Living on sugar, vitamin B, and caffeine....." Not healthy, believe me. So I'm ready for the changes. What am I going to do to make sure of it? Get back into cooking. I let it go when I did the play -- not that I regret doing that at all. That was way more fun than anyo...