I wrote on my blog a month ago. Yikes! I've been so busy. No movement on the scale (I'm still 5'5" and my weight fluctuates between 138-140), but my arms are less flabby since I started lifting weights at the gym. Even though I'm not fat (not even overweight according to the Ht and Wt charts), I feel so big compared to the skinny women at my gym. However, there are a lot of 20- and 30-somethings, and I'm 45, so it's not a fair comparison. Still, I used to be so slender---why does getting old bring with it a slow metabolism and weight gain?!?
I bought some of those Alli pills, but haven't started using them. I will beginning June 30 - once I have officially moved into my home office, and where there's a bathroom close by! It does state that the JC diet (a low fat diet) would be a good fit with Alli. Maybe I won't experience severe "treatment effects"- ? I bought a month's supply, so I'll give it a shot. Maybe it will force me to adhere more strictly to the plan. It's going to be tough trying to socialize while taking the pills.
Got back from a 3-day trip to Vegas. Stayed at the Venetian ($$$). I was attending -oddly enough- a spirtuality seminar. I don't care for Vegas, but the hotel was nice. The seminar was fantastic! Unfortunately, I did not follow any diet while I was gone. I am back on track today and will be hitting the gym in an hour. I need to figure out why Jenny Craig isn't doing it for me anymore. I was so motivated in the beginning and the food is not bad at all. I know it's an attitude problem, but I am working on it.
With that being said, I might take a hiatus from JC for awhile. I have so much travel in June and July, that there is no way I can stick to the plan (except maybe on weekends). One of my trips is to Puerto Rico, so I don't want to carry JC food with me. I am concerned that, once I leave JC, I'll never go back. Still, I bought the Rewards plan, so I guess when life settles back down, Ic an return. All this traveling is a bit of a fluke. I'm covering for a colleague who is retiring (which is why I'm going to San Juan PR). Also, I got 6 assignments in Nevada, and I'm doing them back-to-back. I 'll be gone for 10 days (including travel time). Again, this is unusual - I typically have to just deal with day trips.
Maybe I'll be back with Jenny the middle of July. I'll see how I'm doing. If I can maintain the weight loss and/or lose more weight, than there is no reason to eat "nongrocery" food. I'll take it a day at a time.
I made it my goal to avoid temptation this week. I did not go to Panera Bread to meet my friends last night. I went to the gym and worked out for 1hr. Today, I left the house early and have been slaving away all morning. I plan to work out again tonight and avoid the kitchen area this evening.
I have to deal with a social engagement on Friday. I guess I'll try to budget my calories so I can eat some good Mexican food. Thank goodness the restaurant has a website with the menu posted. I can go in and just order, and not get tempted by the sights and smells. Then there's Mother's Day! My son insists on taking me out to eat, so not sure what I'll do. He wants me to choose the restaurant, so I'll do some research.
I've been socializing a lot lately - a nice change from my first year in California, where I knew no one and never went anywhere. However, with socializing comes food, and with food comes the temptation to cheat. I ate at my favorite Indian restaurant today and blew it. I miss spicy food, the different variety of food items, the tastes, the textures, the smells....God, I have to get back on track! I don't have a whole lot left to lose, but I've been stuck for the last month and a half.
I also have had a series of health concerns lately - a banged up knee from a bad fall, a deep (knife) cut on my thumb, dental issues (a veneer that won't stay on, a crown with a margin that has to be replaced, bleeding gums...geez!!!)
On a positive note, I got permission from my employer to work from home permanently. That means no more long commutes, no more traffic snarls, and no more long walks between the parking garage and my office (which means no more folks bumming change off me or asking me for directions to the VCounty Jail or Courthouse!). I will now be able to get up at 6 am, make some coffee, and begin my day in a calmer, more relaxed state of mind. I will start moving my stuff home over the next few weeks. The government has to install a separate phone/fax and DSL line in my house before I can "officially" move. I also have to get a Mailboxes Etc. postal box.
Perhaps working from home will give me more incentive to stick to the JC diet. I know it'll be great to be able to work out every lunch at the gym.
So, I was working out ont he elliptical last weekend and the woman next to me kept coughing. I should have moved, but didn't. Sure enough, a few days later my son and I came down with the same coughing bug the woman had and we've been miserably sick. I had to fly to Idaho for work last Tuesday and my symptoms worsened. It's Saturday and I'm still coughing up phlegm and feeling weak. I haven't worked out at all this week, nor have I followed the diet. I've eaten a lot of carbs and can see it on my body. I'm not weighing myself until I'm over this bug (whatever it is).
Well, it's taking awhile, but I'm down to 140 (12 pound loss since January 5). I have another 10-12 pounds to lose till I reach goal. Not sure if I 128 might be a little too thin for my frame (medium) and age. I'll probably know in about 5 more pounds.
My JCC called in. She didn't send me the Halfway dining guide, so I'll have to figure out the MOMO without it. Not that I haven't already. I have no travel this week, so maybe I can focus more on learning exchanges.
I wish I was one of those people who loved exercise, but I don't. I love how I feel after the fact, but just getting to the point of being consistent about it is tough. I skipped exercising yesterday and feel guilty about it today.
Diet-wise, no big blunders. I was starving at work yesterday (I stayed late) and didn't have any JC foods. I ate a portion controlled package of crackers (which I got on a Southwest airlines flight, and which I stuck in my purse last week). It did the trick, but I suspect the salt content was high.
My clothes are looser and my mid-section seems tighter. Because I don't have a whole lot to loose, I'm not seeing anything too dramatic.
I watched the DVD The Secret yesterday. I think that, despite some hokey moments and a lot of leaps of faith, it sends out a very positive, important message. One lesson I took from the movie is that I need to forgive -really forgive- my parents and my ex to move on and have a happier, more fulfilling life. I also need to visualize the life I want and take action to get to that point. Again, a lot of what was said in the DVD isn't anything new, but it all came together in 90 mins, and I felt good afterwards.
Diet-wise, it's been okay. I exercised for 40 mins and took the dog on several walks. I had a long talk with my sister today and I might fly out to NC to see her and get some free treatments at her medical spa (massage, microdermabrasion, etc.). My trip to Canada is postponed, and the delivery date on my condo in Panama has been pushed back to August (from April). My ex and I bought the condo at pre-construction prices back in 2005. The structure is up, but there have been some design changes and issues with the Panamian government over the wildlife preserve next to the country club. Still, I can't wait to take family and friends to Panama so they can enjoy the resort. My ex and I will split our time, avoiding each other as much as possible.
I wonder if the pictures of the pencil thin women who grace the login page of this website are mean to be inspiring?? I find them annoying as hell. Some of those women look like they need to gain weight to be healthy! If they are dieting, then God help the rest of us!!
For my consult yesterday, I spoke to Linda- because my JCC was not available. She wasn't as warm or as knowledgeable as my usual JCC. On top of that, my food arrived an hour late. I had to call the courier service again to make sure the delivery guy knew how to get to my place. He did, but he was running late. Golden State Overnight is supposed to deliver by 10:30 am. I got my package at 11:20 am.
Today, I had the Silver Dollar Pancakes and Veggie Sausage. It was a nice change from cereal. I told Linda (the sub JCC) that I was going out-of-town for two days and didn't want to carry my JC food on the plane. She was concerned about me doing MOMO, even though I already have and I am 1 lbs shy of my halfway point. Geez! I figure I can carry some of the smaller items (like a cereal and two snacks, and maybe a Chili), and then eat out using the Dining Guide for guidance I don't like to check baggage on overnight trips, and since I'm carrying a digital voice recorder, a laptop, my clothes and toiletries, I don't have much room for food. We'll see how it goes.
I am enjoying my long weekend so far. My son is spending the night with a friend, so it's nice and quiet. The puppy is still have potty issue - on top of that, she has a bad case of "excitement urination," peeing whenever she's happy to see someone. It's embarassing and I always tell people to stand back until she's down. Of course, because she's so adorable, they don't listen to me and (of course) they get dribbled on. My vet said this is a problem with cocker spaniels. He didn't know if my puppy (a cockapoo) was more spaniel or poodle. Obviously, more spaniel. Sigh! What are you going to do? The good thing is, she doesn't dribble when she sees me in the morning because I don't greet her excitedly. I avoid her eyes and speak to her in low tones until she calms down. I just don't have control over strangers' reactions.
I'm going out to enjoy the sunny weather. It's supposed to turn rainy tomorrow, so I need to take advantage now.
I lost weight, even though I added extra calories to my JC plan at night (mostly around 100-200 cals). My plan is for 1200, which might need to be tweaked.
Anyhow, my JCC is supposed to call tomorrow. I wonder if she will? Also, I'm supposed to get my next two week food order. It'll be nice to stock the fridge again. I use the Menu Planner on the JC website after I get my food order and that way I can make sure I have travel-friendly foods on the days I'm out-of-town.
My colleague is try to convince me to take a "4-legged" flight to Medford, as opposed to driving up there next week for a hearing. (The weather is supposed to be yucky and I'm getting over the stomach flu.) I would fly from Sac to Portland, then Portland to Medford. I would repeat those legs on the way back. The government airfare works out to about how much I would pay to rent an SUV for three days and pay for an extranight in a hotel. Of course, I would have to get a rental car once I arrive in Medford. I will figure it out by the end of the day, I guess.
