Trying Again?

So, after almost a year, I'm back.

I actually lost to about 170 last spring but, after returning to work and having a fairly stressful fall, gained back to 193. Now I'm at 184 and feeling a little better.

I'm most comfortable at 175 or under - why do I do this to myself? How come I can't lose and keep it off? I'm the quintessential yo-yo dieter. It sucks.

The Wendie Effect?

Does anyone remember the Wendie Plan? It was a twist on the old Weight Watchers point system when they used to have you consume a range of points. The Wendie Plan was supposed to shake up your metabolism when you hit a plateau. The premise was that if food was fuel, and your metabolism the furnace, an occassional high food/fuel day would make the metabolism/furnace kick into high gear.

Well, my point here (and there is one) is that I think there just might be some truth to the theory! I've been fairly lo-cal for a week and then had a little mini-binge last night. I was stressed out (long story) and ended up eating dark chocolate M&M's, red wine, and garlic bread for dinner!

And I was down a pound this morning after being "stuck" since Friday. Hmmm. Not that I'm going to stick to the chocolate/wine/bread diet but I think my eyes have been opened to the fact that a little slip now and again does not doom one's weight loss efforts to total failure.

Anyone else with similar experiences?

Post Weekend Report

So, all in all, the results of the weekend aren't too terrible.

I'm still up a half pound from the end of last week but hey, 7 pounds in seven days isnt' bad. It's sure to slow down, now, anyway.

So, weekdays are usually OK for me. Tomorrow I'm going out to lunch at a creperie in Philadelphia - that's a change but my plan is to eat half of whatever they serve! Thursday, I'm in Philly again, for a conference. I think I'll do a salad for lunch.

Spring break starts on Friday. The unstructured time at home kills me. I'll have to plan lots of activities to get us out of the house.

Wish me luck!

Minor set-back...

Well, I knew my body would realize what was going on sooner or later! And after chips and a beer last night (yum!) my brief appearance at 182 was quickly replaced by 184. The hurtles of the weekend are treacherous!

I'm taking the kids to a birthday party this afternoon. I'm OK saying no to cake and ice cream but the snacks and possible "adult beverages" (do we notice a theme?) will give me a run for my money. I'll just need to keep the ultimate goal in mind. And a diet soda in my hand!

Then, we might go to the movies - my plan there is the kiddie tray for the kids and another diet soda for me. I'll bring a South Beach bar if I get desperate for something to munch on. Somewhere in there is dinner - and yes, we'll probably end up at McDonalds because of logistics. That, surprisingly, I can handle. I get a coffee and eat the kids' leftovers! I get just enough of a taste without the damage of a full-on fast food fest.

We'll see what Mr. Scale says tomorrow!

The weekend approaches...

... and it's making me a little nervous.

I'm so good at sticking to my diet during the week. I bring my lunch to work - only eat the lunch and snacks in my bag - and then eat a reasonable dinner with no snacks after. That has always been easy for me.

But the weekends! Yikes! There's no structure and I tend to snack way too much. Plus, we're going out to dinner on Friday night for my dad's birthday and then we have a kids' birthday party on Saturday. We're going to the movies Saturday afternoon and who knows what Sunday will bring.

Any words of advice? Maybe I can put my lunch and snacks in a bag to play a little mental trick on myself. That still doesn't cover the birthday parties. Help!

Five Pounds!

I know it's not going to continue like this - and historically I've always done well at the start of a diet (water loss and the like?) but all the same, it's very nice to see the numbers on the scale work their way down. Perhaps, just perhaps, I'll see the 170's sometime next week! Wouldn't that be a treat for Spring vacation?!?!

I have my second micro-dermabrasion scheduled for this afternoon. I'm on a full-scale self-improvement kick! I've always had a fairly terrible complexion. As I approach 40, I'd really like to know what life is like without blemishes. I'd like, just for once, to have clear, smooth skin, that doesn't require make-up for me to feel presentable. Or for my husband to take a photo of me and the kids and for me not to feel like my face is just a big red blob! Sometimes my complexion bothers me more than my weight.

I did great with drinking water again yesterday. I'm going to buy a big bottle today at lunch when I go to the Wawa - maybe it will help with my skin, too!

Help! How do I go visit other blogs?

I've only posted - and then visited blogs of people who responded to me through the link. How do I "get out" of my own homepage and look at the other blogs?

Any help would be appreciated!

Got my before picture up!

The great success from yesterday was successfully uploading my before picture. I don't think it's too bad as far as before pictures go. Again, since I'm quite tall, I don't think I look as heavy as I feel, or, as I actually am! I think it will become more obvious as the weight goes away...

I actually drank water yesterday. Major accomplishment for me. Granted, it was two 12 ounce bottles but still! And then I was running to the ladies' all day. I brought a bottle of diet tonic water - my clear non-caffeinated beverage of choice. It's 34 ounces and I think it counts. Does it? Feel free to weigh in. No pun intended!

The next couple of days are quite busy - and then Friday I'll face going out to dinner with my parents, husband, and kids. I'll have to have a plan before going. Maybe I can find out what will be on the menu. Perhaps I'll do my appetizer-as-dinner trick. Of course, that includes a glass of wine, too!

Thanks for the support (already!).

Well, much to my amazement, I actually had three responses to my post from yesterday. I truly was not expecting that! I didn't even know it was an option. I haven't really had a chance to "look around" at other posts - but I'll surely do that today.

I weighed in at 188.5 this morning. I'm not sure that's really a loss - per se. My start weight from yesterday was an afternoon weigh-in but hey, I'm not picky, I'll take it! The low point this morning was putting on a new dress (good) in a size 16 (bad). It looks nice, and I know it's "just a number", but it bums me out a little. Maybe I"ll take a photo and try to show what I look like! What a project...

I have the best of intentions for today. I have my lunch and snacks all planned out and already entered in the food journal. Now let's just hope I don't eat all my snacks before lunch. Not that it's ever happened before!

Well, the exercise thing didn't happen yesterday. I'll try again today. I think the difference with this weight loss journey is that I'm going to try to not make myself crazy - or set goals that I know I'm not going to reach. It's just not realistic for me to say that I'm going to exercise every day - or that I'm not going to have a glass of wine until I lose all the weight. I would quit faster than you can say "Chardonnay".

So I'm off to look around and be motivated!

Off to a Questionable Start!

Well, today was meant to be day one of this latest weight-loss attempt. Judging by my food log - I'm off to a less than stellar start! But it's OK, all is not lost, a reasonable dinner is the only thing between me and a salvaged day. Perhaps a walk on the treadmill is in order?

Here's the thing - I'm 6' tall and 190 pounds. I'm tall enough to carry off the whole "almost 200 pounds" thing but I feel terrible. I haven't been this heavy since after baby number three was born. And as I get closer to the ripe old age of 40, I feel the need to resolve my weight issues.

At 6' and 190, I'm in a size 14. Some of my 14's are tight, others are just right. Of course, like many other folks, my wardrobe consists of clothes from 10 to 16. At 165 (yep, been there, too!) a size 10 is comfortable. I wonder what I'll be at 150?

Because yes, 150 is my dream goal weight. Haven't seen that number since high school but I think it's doable. At 165 I plan on reassessing. I'll see how long it takes, how I feel, if I can still enjoy a glass of wine in the evening, etc.

I suppose that's all for today. I hope that this blog helps provide the inspiration I need to stay accountable.