The Most Important Pound

One of the guys on "The Biggest Loser" said something last night that resonated with me:  "The most important pound is the next one you lose."   I don't know who said it, 'cause I am not a regular viewer of the program, but caught him saying this while I was channel-surfing last night.

He's right.  Sometimes I get so caught up on what I have or haven't lost, what I have and haven't done or accomplished, and forget about the true nature of this journey.  Just keep it up.  Stick with it, as my BFF says.

Be committed.....do what it takes.......and you will have what you want.

Looking for Felix

Monday weigh in is 226.  That's down a pound from last Monday.  Still, tho, up from my low of 225 earlier in the week.  I am treating this week as Boot Camp all over again.  

Duties for this week:

1.  Eat breakfast every day.

2. Take my vitamin every day.

3. 100 ounces of water AT LEAST

4. Exercise EVERY day

5. write down everything I eat or drink

And, before I can do that, I have to FIND FELIX.  (see yesterday's post). 

I must remember to stay positive.

Free Felix!

Poor, poor Felix!  My little classical guitar is missing!  I took him to the guitar hospital about two months ago and had not heard back about when he would be ready to be released.  So, yesterday, I stopped by to check on him and.....horror of horrors.......the shop is closed and moved to parts unknown and they took Felix with them!  I've called the number I have and left a message, and if I don't hear from them, I am going to try to find the owner of the building and see if they have a forwarding address.  I know, I know, I have other guitars; a nice Les Paul Standard electric guitar (named L.B.) and a big old acoustic (named Lefty), but it was Felix that I bonded with and he is the one I like to play the most.  So, if anyone sees him, tell him to come home right away!  Mommy is worried.

A Little Less Conversation.......

A little less conversation.....And a little more action, please!  (from the song written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange -- immortalized by the King himself, Elvis)

That's my attitude for this week.  My strategies and obsessions are constantly shifting.  I can't talk about dieting all the time and not be tempted to over indulge.  I don't want to think about it all the time, either.  Thinking too much sometimes leads to negative thinking and beating myself up for each and every failure along the way.  I don't want my thin family and thin friends to be privy to all my constant battles with food.  I can, however, write about it here, because this is where I draw my strength.  Somehow, writing instead of talking seems more therapeutic.  And there are so many of you that are fighting the same demons that I am.

So...............a little more action, please!  More exercise!  More positive thoughts!  More thinking about how I am doing this for ME.  I know what it takes to see positive results.  It is up to me to make it happen.

Checking In.....

Wow here it is a whole week since I've checked in to EP.....I didn't mean to do that, but have been so busy with assorted deadlines I did not allow myself the usual luxury of surfing the web and keeping up with my favorite bloggers.  Weigh-in this morning:  I am down a pound from last Monday.  I was hoping for more, but heck, I'll take it. Hope everyone else is doing well and I will be checking in with you all later today if time permits.

Don't shoot the messenger

I can't take it out on Mr. Scale.  Up to 228.  That's up a pound from last Monday.  $2 in the fund.  It is not his fault.  I ate poorly all weekend.  I drank beer on Friday night.  I had chocolate cake at my son's party yesterday.

You may ask......Are you giving up?  Hell, no!  I am not giving up!  Today is a new day and a new week. 

 I found the following quote:

 In victory be not proud; In defeat be not depressed.          (Chinese Proverb)

 I think it is appropriate here..............fate (reality) has slapped me for being so cocky about the zipping of the pants.  I notice that I am usually at my low point (weight) around Wednesday or Thursday each week and then I let down my guard over the weekend and then.....well, I've already told you the results for today.......

Waist Management

Waist Management.........

Mr. Scale doesn't like me today.  Back up to 227.  That leads me to examine the subject of Weight (Waist) Management.  Manage my weight?  That never occurred to me for way too long.  Oh, I managed.  Yes, indeedy, I managed.  For years I managed to eat anything and everything I wanted without regard to anything but feeding my emotional needs.  I would go for extended periods without even approaching the scale.  And, then when I did........I would shock myself for about two seconds and go and eat some more.  That's how I got myself in the situation of being way over 200 pounds and well on my way to 300.  I wasn't always fat.  I wasn't a fat kid.  I didn't begin to pack on the pounds until after my second son was born and then I just let it go.  Taking care of two kids under 5 years old, working, having a husband diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis..........I bought into making myself feel better any way I could and that was with food.  I managed to live that way for far too long! 

Some personal data I haven't shared before:  My boys are married and in their 20's now.  I have three beautiful grandchildren.  My husband is doing tolerably well with the M.S.  I am 57 years young.  After eleven years as owner of a small printing business, I now work at home doing free-lance graphic design, among other things.  I write short stories, poetry and songs.  I transcribe and edit books for a local non-fiction author.  I'm learning to play the guitar.  I am an occasional deejay.   I want to be in better shape at 60 than I was at 50.

Now, today, the words "weight management" have an entirely new meaning.  If I manage to put on a couple of pounds, I have to manage to take it back off.  If I had done that when I first started to gain weight, I wouldn't be where I am today.  So now, I am weighing in EVERY DAY and consciously thinking about what I put in my mouth.  Even though my caloric intake yesterday was pretty much on target, I had way too much sodium and I think that is why the scale is back up.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks for listening!

Progress is a good thing!

Well, Mr. Scale shows 225 today.  On my way DOWN!  Today I am wearing a pair of jeans that I almost got rid of countless times because I couldn't button them or zip them up, even laying down on the bed.  Now, they not only button, they zip, and the thighs and hips are quite loose.  I'll take it!  They are still a plus size, but they do not have an elastic waist and are not "stretchy."  Yum!  That tastes like victory!

Thanks for all your comments on yesterday's post!  I wrote the poem in the spirit of doing something other than eating and it worked.  I never did have that sweet treat, and now today I can report my small victory of zipping up my pants! 

Onward, warriors!

Poetry?

Nothing Gained

Mr. Scale says still 226 today.  Nothing gained.  That is a good thing.  Yesterday was a full day -- full of action and eating right.  I am planning more for today.  Fall is coming fast!  I managed to clean out my closets and donated two large bags of clothing.  All my summer stuff went away and lots of the fall stuff I got out is now gone, too.  Anything too big is outta here!  I have nothing to fall back on if I gain weight.  And the payoff is, I will get to shop for new SMALLER CLOTHES!  And that will feel good!