Diwali weekend is finally over and it's been a fun filled four (or five) days. I've shopped like mad, done all the poojas, played cards all nights and danced all evening. I have also not been eating too well. Some amount of snacking was at fault, but eating out every night was the main culprit.
I was seriously considering not going to my weigh in today and rescheduling to later in the week, but at 2:00 P.M. I picked up my courage and went anyway. I was glad I did!! Considering PMS and the totally off plan eating, I've only gained about half a kg! The nutrionist was totally understanding as well. Most of the people who come in there have faltered over Diwali.
So now that it is over, I am going to concentrate on being on plan completely for both diet and exercise. Completely and utterly. I am not going to drink anything but water (that means no alcohol) for a little while as well. I just need a de-tox.
We met up with a friend over Diwali who has lost 32 kgs! He was telling me all about his motivation and the time he decided that enough was enough. He was talking about all his NSVs as well and it just reminded me so much of the people I've encountered on EP! It's made such a huge difference to him - he's more confident, happier and just so much more pleasant to be with than when he was utterly depressed because of his weight. He's inspired G and his friend as well so I am playing watch dog for all three of us. heheheh.
The first day is tomorrow and I have done nothing. I have not bought lanterns, I have not made anything and I have not finished my shopping. Sigh. I did, however, go down to the hospital this morning to visit my friend who has just delivered the prettiest little baby girl.
Rushi and I have been friends since middle school and people say we are really similar. At Rushi's wedding, I ended up being congratulated pretty often! This was a tough pregnancy for her because she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had to have insulin shots several times a day. Now the doctors tell her she might even have had diabetes with her first baby - but she was in a small town then and there was no such diagnosis. The first thing she tells me - lose weight before you get pregnant. Like I didn't know that - that's part of the reason I want to lose this excess weight in the first place.
G and I really want to have a baby - but there just seem to be so many things we still have to accomplish first. Both of us are already 30, but we still have to become financially completely secure since both our businesses are at transition points. Kids are expensive propositions and even though we have a lot of family support, ultimately, we will be the ones responsible for a person.
Anyway, the diet went really well yesterday as did the salsa class. G has more rhythm than I gave him credit for and quite enjoyed the class. We also have made our big purchase of the season by buying a brand new LCD television. Pretty exciting - it was delivered yesterday and we have installed it already. It's a lot larger than the one we had before, and it's got great picture quality as well. I'm not really into t.v., but it's so fun to get new stuff!!
Ok, I have to leave work now and fight the traffic to get to my weight training session. Cheers everyone!
This has not been a great weekend - actually, forget the weekend - I worked all of Saturday so I only had Sunday for my weekend.
First the idiot who was replacing the battery on my pedometer battery cover (and I thought that even an idiot could have replaced the battery) so now it is covered with cellotape. He also put in a battery that was slightly large and now I can't get it out - but at least the pedometer is still working. Very very annoying. Then we went to my sister in law's place for a diwali card party - where no one played cards and I ate and drank completely off plan. I have also been snacking on Diwali snacks - I know I shouldn't but since they're in the house, I can't seem to resist them...
Yesterday my mom and I took two of my younger cousins shopping. The elder of them is getting married in December and they both needed some outfits for some of the functions (Hindu weddings tend to go on for at least 2 days - mine lasted a week). We walked around to all the shops since diwali and the wedding season is about to begin and there are new designs out everywhere. The girls must have tried on some 50 outfits! The shops were all open till 10:30 and we came home by 10:45, completely and utterly exhausted! The girls finally bought stuff that really looked good.
I was glad for them, but I was a little depressed for myself. I don't think I ever realized I was SO fat that I could not get into a single ready made outfit! I have been getting all my outfits made to my own specs for years, but still, it was a big shocker for me. All the stuff in large sizes was unfashionable and made in dull colours more suited to older ladies than myself. I may have had some weight loss success, but I am nowhere near where I want to be. I have to buckle down and really get to it - and I can't stick to the program - what's wrong with me??
Today I ended up having a fight with my mother. Nothing horribly surprising - my mother is the only one I know who can push every single button I have. It's complicated - I love and hate her and today it was really leaning toward the latter. I don't like myself this way - I'm usually pretty peacable. She drives me nuts. I think it's because I see my parents too often - I see them every single day for work and hang out with them for various reasons on holidays or dinners (biggest reason - we haven't seen G *forever!*) - I really need some distance. Fortunately they are going to be in Dubai for Diwali so I don't have to feel horribly divided up and miserable during what is supposed to be a happy week.
The really good news in all this drama is that I have finally found myself a teacher for private salsa lessons. I learned the salsa years ago, but I really really want G to take it as well - it's such a mood enhancing class! He has been avoiding it like the plague, but yesterday I ran into my brother's first salsa teacher and I know she is good because my brother has gone from being stiff and unsteady to being a brilliant dancer (not to mention utterly smooth ;-) ) . So we are starting lessons tonight itself!! I am so excited I want to go home right now!!
I feel better for all that venting. Deep breath. This is why I like this blog :-)
I have been sticking to my diet and exercising like mad. Did weight training last evening along with some cardio and then, this morning, did my power yoga / kickboxing combo. And then, instead of going back to my room and slowly getting ready to start the day, I went to the track and did a 45 minute walk/run!! AND I packed my gym bag for an evening work out, if I can manage it!
Hemal is starting to really push me now. He's making me do asanas I couldn't have dreamed of doing a month ago. The best thing is that I feel so stretched and toned when I am done with the class. He's really pleased with my increased energy as well - there was a time when I would stumble into class in the evenings and complain that I had no energy to work out. (Hemal can be found at www.fightingfitindia.com for anyone who wants to take a look at his website)
He attributes my energy increase directly to my diet and I have to agree. Ever since I started changing the things I eat as well as the times when I eat, I have had virtually inexhaustible energy. G and everyone else is just running to keep up with me :-) I do have down energy days, but they are further and further in between! This is such a great side effect of becoming fitter! (Unfortunately down energy is not the same as down mood - which still happens quite a bit)
So today I have made an appointment for my mother at my nutritionists'. She has made me change the appointment time and place so many times, I was afraid they tell me to just forget it, but she is on her way there. Whether she gets there or not is a different thing - she is stuck in traffic right now and still has to drop Dad off at home. Aah mom.
Today I don't have THAT much to do. I am going to sneak off in a couple of hours to have coffee with a friend and then do some shopping for Diwali. It's time to get the lanterns!
So yesterday was "karva chauth". The women of the community I am married into fast all day (no food, no water) from sunrise to sunset for the health and well-being of their husbands. It was my second post marriage and this year was a lot less difficult than last year. We woke up at 5:00 A.M. to eat before sunrise and ate lots of unhealthy food - including cottage cheese, parathas and desssert and then we fasted till 6:00 P.M., when, after a religious ceremony (for which we dressed up the hilt), we had milkshakes - of the really creamy variety.
Then we waited to see the moon before we ate and - here's the kicker - the moon never showed up. There has been heavy flooding because of a cyclone in the south of India and we had clouds all day yesterday - we never did get to see the moon! Fortunately, we had prior notice that we weren't going to be able to see it, so we broke fast at 9:00 and then we ate our normal home cooked meal (except for the addition of a slice of pizza). Unfortunatelty, after all the fasting, I didn't really watch my portions and I am still re-hydrating from yeterday. So now I have to work extra hard today.
G, as always, was tickled pink when I fasted - especially since the community I come from doesn't have any fasting for the hubby at all. I actually do it more for my mother in law (it's such a family and community bonding thing) than for him, but he still thinks I am adorable when I choose to do really traditional events and dress up traditionally. I am encouraging that belief .
I've been pretty good with diet and exercise this whole weekend and this is the only day I have been off my game. I'm actually pretty pleased with myself! woo hoo! Also, I've decided not to do or say anything more to G about his weight. You guys are right, it has to come from him. I don't want to push him in the other direction. :-)
Today is turning into a truly painful day at work. This is what happens when I am away!
I think the good mood came as a result of the weigh in yesterday. I am so glad I am showing some progress, I stuck to my diet plan carefully yesterday and I plan to continue with that. I also had a great workout yesterday and even did some weights by myself. I'm feeling the effects of those today and I feel great!
I don't know why I feel so dependant on my instructor for weight training. He is really good and I do see results, but since he's started adding other, larger classes, my personal time slots have gotten compressed and I don't want to work out at 8 in the evening and only get home by 9:30! I need some time with G too!
Anyway, we have decided that he will write out all the exercises that I am to do during the week and I will do them at the club and we can train once a week when we find the time for it. We're going to try that out for a couple of weeks and see how it goes for me. I think this should work. I've been avoiding this solution because the buff guys and instructors who hang out in front of the weights and the mirrors at the club all the time make me really uncomfortable. I always feel like they are wondering what the heck I'm doing there. But I am going to have to work with that since the gym is great there - not to mention paid for.
In other news, I'm a bit worried about G. Busy season has started for him and I know he is really stressed out from work, but he has also put on all this weight that, I think, is keeping him from being as active and as cheerful as he used to be. He used to have great metabolism, he could gain and lose weight really fast, so he thinks he can continue walking or working out like he used to. Thing is, as he's gotten older, he hasn't noticed that his metabolism has slowed down and he is just not getting the results he expects - and this makes him feel worse.
I've tried my very best to control his food intake - and he has improved, but he still drinks too many carbonated drinks for weight loss and he craves all kinds of heavy food that I make sure is never made at home (so he orders them from local restaurants). He exercises in the evenings most days (though not enough for his size) but resolutely fights all morning wake up calls - and I've tried everything.
He knows he's put on weight, he knows he needs to get fitter, but he just doesn't make enough effort. I hate to insist that he take care of this problem because it just makes me seem like I am nagging all the time and that sets his back up and I hate myself when I nag as well. Any suggestions, ladies? How do I get my man to lose weight?
After all the depressed blathering of the last few posts, things are starting to look up! Mostly because I had my weigh in today and I have gone down to 80.4! FIVE kgs gone since I've started and I'm pretty happy about that :-)
I am now even more resolved to stick with the program! My flu is going away so hurray - I can go for a run this evening!
Thanks for those comments people! I've been meaning to check up on all, but haven't had the time. Will do so tomorrow!
I have been down and out with the flu and a horrible lingering cough and cold since Sunday and it's really exhausted me. I have been at home so I am doing very well on eating - my body is craving lighter foods after a WEEK of binge eating and drinking with the family in Goa last week (a really fun family vacation). I think I've lost all the weight I put on during that week - thanks in no small part to the flu... I have a weigh in tomorrow so will post the weight then.
I feel like I've been losing and gaining the same kg for about a month and I am sick and tired of it and sick and tired of my scale not going below 80. Of course travelling has been tough on my body, but I really need to pay closer attention to my diet. It seems like my portion sizes have crept up again and I am going to have to start measuring again to get them correct.
I was looking at my "before" picture and I suddenly realized that exactly a year had gone by since then - it was Dussera this Sunday past - and I have barely made a dent in the weight I've got to lose. It seems like diet and exercise has been occupying so much of my mindspace, how is it that I haven't lost more weight? Makes it worse to realise that my friend has lost her 15th kg and barely plateaued and I seem to have hit a plateau right after my FOURTH kg??!!
I am resolving to stick to the program more closely NOW. I can't exercise a lot more, though, I really need to recover from this flu. Three days and running... I'm going home to sleep it off - right after I finish an exit interview.
So I am off to Goa on saturday again and won't be back till Thursday next. The good thing about this trip is that my husband, parents, silbings and sibling-in-law are going to be there. I don't remember the last time we did a real family holiday.
Of course, it isn't a full holiday for me. I will be working during the week as well. I'm hoping that I don't have to spend every waking moment at the site. G needs attention and sulks like a baby when I'm not with him. He REALLY missed me the last week that I was in Goa. When I came back he surprised me a beautiful (and expensive) Mont Blanc watch!! It's really sporty and fantastic - it's got a stopwatch and kinds of bells and whistles. I was so blown away. My husband pampers me :-)
The only thing that is really important now is to control my diet and exercise in Goa. I am going to figure out the food PROPERLY and not depend on the family's plans for nourishment because, when we go anywhere on holiday, food is almost always the centrepiece - and drinks, don't forget the drinks :-) Vik and G have already planned what alcohol to bring - I predict a couple of sozzled nights.
Yesterday I was feeling so crampy and bloated that I went for walk/run. I came back feeling so good, it's difficult to imagine the times I didn't like exercise! I just have to learn to get past that initial inertia. I can't wait till I can run more and better!
I won't be able to weigh in this week at all. I can't go to the centre tomorrow because we have a little religious thing happening there and I have to be on hand at home. The next day I leave for Goa so my next weigh in will only be next Friday. By then the effects of TOM will be all gone and I won't have any more excuses!
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