What an absolutely, super, incredibly, fantastic weekend. Nothing earth shattering just time with friends & family. Time to get back in the pool for evening swims. Lawns to be mowed. Sleeping in til 7:30. My teenage daughter telling me she's bored (already). Dinner's on decks. Morning hikes. Hearing my daughter play the piano and sing a solo at her spring recital. Realizing that my life is about as perfect as I could ever hope for. Funny how all the things that are part of my every day become the things that make my world amazing when I take the time to gather them all in my head and my heart and appreciate what at time slips by & is misinterpreted as monotony.
I spent Saturday morning and afternoon with my forever friend that I don't get near enough time with anymore. I bought her a gift for her birthday in August 2012 (and I bought myself one too because she couldn't go alone) and we finally took the time to cash in and use it. It was a day to have our hair and make-up done and then a photo shoot. A photo shoot with high heels, mens ties, lots of pearls and two (slightly vodka induced) imaginations. We got to see some of the photos that were taken of her and of I (only a few of us together (and not together like that - even we have our limits). Those will go in our well hidden box that is destined to be published in the book that will be written about us once we're gone - maybe not on the level of a must read as Anne Frank but it's going to be up there). What absolutely amazed me was that as we looked at our individual photos we realized that they were tasteful and for women in our 50's - damn sexy. What a boost to our ego. I highly recommend grabbing your best friend and making a girls day trip to a tasteful, reputable photographer and let them show you that you really are beautiful even with your big thighs and no longer flat belly. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself and for my friend and it was the most fun we have had legally (just kidding kids - your mother has never done anything illegal - why do you think I take trips to Amsterdam??!! ).
I still need to lose 20 pounds but I'm feeling pretty good about who I am right now in this moment and I haven't felt that way in a VERY long time.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
Day 9B - Dresses
I'm back and hopefully to stay (or until I get rid of the next 20 pounds). I've signed up for Weight Watchers On-Line but realize that I now have to learn to navigate a new computer program which includes documenting everything that goes into my mouth. Something tells me that this is going to get old rather quickly but for now I'll do my best. I'm not big on figuring out points. I would rather put in the calories and have it tell me to keep eating or go to sleep (that's the only option that would work for me if it told me to stop eating). I may have to go to the meetings to get the hang of the points thing and then do the on-line deal but at this point I've committed to 3 months on-line. Let's see how that goes.
My incentive you ask??? I bought two dresses and they "just" fit - OK, possibly a little snug. I have been working on holding my breath for long periods of time since when I put them on breathing becomes a tiny little problem. So, on that note, I need to get the next 10 pounds off in the next 30 days. If that doesn't happen I will have to remain in the upright position all night for this little party I'll be attending. No sitting, no laughing (because when I laugh I tend to lean or bend a bit), just standing which may not be a bad thing since I purchased a pair of extremely high heels (I was by myself and for a split second thought I was still in my 20's). I guess it will work out either way although being able to breath, laugh & sit down occasionally does sound a bit more appealing then the alternative.
My plan is to step it up a notch. More time on the elliptical, more hiking on the weekends and more walks in my neighborhood. We just got a trampoline in the backyard but I keep thinking I should be in a cute little skirt and crop top to work out on it and I know that that will be the straw that breaks the camels back for my teenage daughters if I go with that plan. Sometimes even I wonder where this stuff comes from that pops into my head.
My incentive you ask??? I bought two dresses and they "just" fit - OK, possibly a little snug. I have been working on holding my breath for long periods of time since when I put them on breathing becomes a tiny little problem. So, on that note, I need to get the next 10 pounds off in the next 30 days. If that doesn't happen I will have to remain in the upright position all night for this little party I'll be attending. No sitting, no laughing (because when I laugh I tend to lean or bend a bit), just standing which may not be a bad thing since I purchased a pair of extremely high heels (I was by myself and for a split second thought I was still in my 20's). I guess it will work out either way although being able to breath, laugh & sit down occasionally does sound a bit more appealing then the alternative.
My plan is to step it up a notch. More time on the elliptical, more hiking on the weekends and more walks in my neighborhood. We just got a trampoline in the backyard but I keep thinking I should be in a cute little skirt and crop top to work out on it and I know that that will be the straw that breaks the camels back for my teenage daughters if I go with that plan. Sometimes even I wonder where this stuff comes from that pops into my head.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Chapter 2 - Day 1B
Day ?? - Let's Start Chapter 2 - Day 1B
I'm back - what a crazy few weeks it's been! I took a week long trip to see family/friends in Holland which included a trip to Amsterdam - now that is one crazy ass place to visit. Coffee shops that don't sell coffee but do sell a variety of things to smoke. Window shopping for scantily clad women and last but not least ~ live shows... look that one up. Quite a detour off the path of the one traffic light town I come from but an extremely fun detour.
Next on my list is this little Memorial Day Parade I've stepped in too coordinate after my parents ran it for 21 years. This is my 2nd year since the "takeover" and we don't have enough time for me to tell you what running this little parade entails. It's the largest Memorial Day Parade in the State of PA and over 5,000 people come out to watch it (our town's population is about 4,800). It's the epitome of small town America. Needless to say it takes up a large portion of my time beginning in Feb/March and becomes completely consuming during the month of May - hence the trip to Holland to regain some sanity in the middle of it all (and the fact that I have an absolutely amazing committee of 6 other women helping me).
So, my diet has been on hold. The good news - I have kept off the 20 pounds. The bad news is I have stopped working on losing more. I have justified that by telling myself that this is my crazy, busy month and maybe that's true but the fact is that I don't want to give up and although I hate to say this I'm going to - come Monday, OK, maybe Tuesday, I'm back on track. I'm signing up for Weight Watchers and off we go on the next journey to lose the next 20 pounds of myself. I sure hope it's a part I want to lose - like my thighs, belly, or lovely arm flab. But my guess is it will slide away from my wrists or ankles or I'll get to buy a smaller bra size - yeah!!! I guess it's worth the risk.
It's good to be back - I've missed you!
I'm back - what a crazy few weeks it's been! I took a week long trip to see family/friends in Holland which included a trip to Amsterdam - now that is one crazy ass place to visit. Coffee shops that don't sell coffee but do sell a variety of things to smoke. Window shopping for scantily clad women and last but not least ~ live shows... look that one up. Quite a detour off the path of the one traffic light town I come from but an extremely fun detour.
Next on my list is this little Memorial Day Parade I've stepped in too coordinate after my parents ran it for 21 years. This is my 2nd year since the "takeover" and we don't have enough time for me to tell you what running this little parade entails. It's the largest Memorial Day Parade in the State of PA and over 5,000 people come out to watch it (our town's population is about 4,800). It's the epitome of small town America. Needless to say it takes up a large portion of my time beginning in Feb/March and becomes completely consuming during the month of May - hence the trip to Holland to regain some sanity in the middle of it all (and the fact that I have an absolutely amazing committee of 6 other women helping me).
So, my diet has been on hold. The good news - I have kept off the 20 pounds. The bad news is I have stopped working on losing more. I have justified that by telling myself that this is my crazy, busy month and maybe that's true but the fact is that I don't want to give up and although I hate to say this I'm going to - come Monday, OK, maybe Tuesday, I'm back on track. I'm signing up for Weight Watchers and off we go on the next journey to lose the next 20 pounds of myself. I sure hope it's a part I want to lose - like my thighs, belly, or lovely arm flab. But my guess is it will slide away from my wrists or ankles or I'll get to buy a smaller bra size - yeah!!! I guess it's worth the risk.
It's good to be back - I've missed you!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Day 65 - Remember Me?
Here I sit - stuck! I lost 20 of the 40 to 50 that I want to lose and I'm stuck. I'm finished with the salad and powder packet diet. I haven't committed to what my next venture will be but I need to find one and get motivated again. The good news is I lost 20 and I've kept it off. I've been exercising a lot - elliptical, walking, hiking, sometimes a combination of two and one day this weekend all three. Still the scale stares back at me in the same spot. I'm still watching my calories but there is wine involved on the weekends. Can wine really be a diet killer? I've been having dreams of someone trying to take my wine bottle out of my arms and I'm screaming like a baby and running away like an Olympian all the while trying to drink the nectar of the gods before they catch me. Maybe I am too attached to my wine...
My sister came up with a great idea (she's always been good at making and saving money unlike her partner/sister - me!). She has offered to be a coach for The B Team. Instead of paying way too much for our powder packets we can each pay her $10 a week and she will tell us what a great job we're doing and even clap for us if the scale goes down the slightest bit each week. I have to run it by the other member of The B Team but it seems to be the best offer we've gotten so far so we may give it a try. My biggest concern is my sister lives on M&M's and Good & Plenty's. I'm not sure she'll have much advice for the diet side of the coaching we're looking for. We better keep looking.
I got my passport photo taken today because my passport expired and I'm heading to Holland. He took one photo and I looked at it and wondered who he had taken a photo of. There was what appeared to be a neck on this woman in the photo and yet it wasn't a normal neck - it was a wrinkled old lady neck. I made him take another one and it looked the same. You have got to be kidding me ~ that is not my neck. Well what was I going to do? I bought the passport photos even though I knew they weren't photos of me. I'm sure when I go through customs they are going to wonder who the photo of the woman is in my passport. Just in case someone does confuse me with her I'm workng on a good excuse as to why a turtleneck is now part of my bathing suit and summer attire. Getting older just keeps getting better and better!
My sister came up with a great idea (she's always been good at making and saving money unlike her partner/sister - me!). She has offered to be a coach for The B Team. Instead of paying way too much for our powder packets we can each pay her $10 a week and she will tell us what a great job we're doing and even clap for us if the scale goes down the slightest bit each week. I have to run it by the other member of The B Team but it seems to be the best offer we've gotten so far so we may give it a try. My biggest concern is my sister lives on M&M's and Good & Plenty's. I'm not sure she'll have much advice for the diet side of the coaching we're looking for. We better keep looking.
I got my passport photo taken today because my passport expired and I'm heading to Holland. He took one photo and I looked at it and wondered who he had taken a photo of. There was what appeared to be a neck on this woman in the photo and yet it wasn't a normal neck - it was a wrinkled old lady neck. I made him take another one and it looked the same. You have got to be kidding me ~ that is not my neck. Well what was I going to do? I bought the passport photos even though I knew they weren't photos of me. I'm sure when I go through customs they are going to wonder who the photo of the woman is in my passport. Just in case someone does confuse me with her I'm workng on a good excuse as to why a turtleneck is now part of my bathing suit and summer attire. Getting older just keeps getting better and better!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Day 58 - Rice Krispy Treats - a Recipe from the Devil!!!
I would like to know who discovered the recipe for Rice Krispy Treats. Is there anything simpler or much better then those little marshmallow covered Krispys? I made them for my daughter's track meet the other day and made the HUGE mistake of cleaning off the spoon (and maybe licking the bowl). I added the mini M&M's and that sticky mess was taken up one more level. So now I am dreaming about Rice Krispy Treats. I ran in the door to make dinner last night before a meeting and realized I had an extra 2 minutes to throw marshmallows & butter in the microwave and I still had the mini M&M's left. So there it was - a full pan of yumminess. Now what??!! Get them out of the house!! I have one daughter that doesn't like junk food and one that just got braces so leaving them in the house was not an option. I threw them on a plate, still warm and gooey, and took them to my meeting. That seemed to work well but it also left half a pan at home. Guess what I had for breakfast (before getting on the elliptical) and it was heavenly! I know, I know, just stop making this stuff... well here's what I have to say to that - I CAN'T!!!!
On a side note there is something I would like to point out - being a grown-up is hard. Bills to pay, kids to clothe & feed, a business to run, realtionships to nuture and a community to be a part of & for me a constant battle over food. I know that when I was be-bopping around during my teen years and my mom was telling me to enjoy this time because it's the best time of my life I remember thinking - you have got to be kidding me - I have pimples on my face, the boys I like don't like me, I have homework every night and I have a curfew - this is as good as it gets??? Shoot me now! And as we know - hind sight is always 20/20. Those were some pretty good years. But although life can be hard it can also be pretty amazing. I have learned what true friendship is. I have learned to love beyond what any words can describe. I have had the opportunity to work for myself. And I have learned what it feels like to be part of a community. So I guess growing up isn't so bad. Now if only sugar could somehow become good for you my life would be complete...
RECIPE OF THE DAY -
ASPARAGUS SOUP
Trim woody ends from 2 lb.asparagus; reserve tips of 8 spears. Cut remaining aspargus into 1/2-inch pieces. In a lg. saucepan, warm 3 T olive oil over low heat. Add 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped stalks celery, & 1 chopped carrot; cook 3 min. Add 1.5 tsp minced garlic; cook 1 min. Add asparagus, 1/4 tsp salt, & 1/4 tsp black pepper; cook 5 min. Add 5 C reduced sodium chicken broth. Simmer, cvd., 20 min. Blanch tips in boiling water 3 min. Drain. Puree soup in batches in a blender. Return to saucepan over medium; add 1/2 C evaporated 2% milk & 1 tsp lemon juice. Warm through (don't let simmer). top w/tips. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan (optional). Serves 4
On a side note there is something I would like to point out - being a grown-up is hard. Bills to pay, kids to clothe & feed, a business to run, realtionships to nuture and a community to be a part of & for me a constant battle over food. I know that when I was be-bopping around during my teen years and my mom was telling me to enjoy this time because it's the best time of my life I remember thinking - you have got to be kidding me - I have pimples on my face, the boys I like don't like me, I have homework every night and I have a curfew - this is as good as it gets??? Shoot me now! And as we know - hind sight is always 20/20. Those were some pretty good years. But although life can be hard it can also be pretty amazing. I have learned what true friendship is. I have learned to love beyond what any words can describe. I have had the opportunity to work for myself. And I have learned what it feels like to be part of a community. So I guess growing up isn't so bad. Now if only sugar could somehow become good for you my life would be complete...
RECIPE OF THE DAY -
ASPARAGUS SOUP
Trim woody ends from 2 lb.asparagus; reserve tips of 8 spears. Cut remaining aspargus into 1/2-inch pieces. In a lg. saucepan, warm 3 T olive oil over low heat. Add 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped stalks celery, & 1 chopped carrot; cook 3 min. Add 1.5 tsp minced garlic; cook 1 min. Add asparagus, 1/4 tsp salt, & 1/4 tsp black pepper; cook 5 min. Add 5 C reduced sodium chicken broth. Simmer, cvd., 20 min. Blanch tips in boiling water 3 min. Drain. Puree soup in batches in a blender. Return to saucepan over medium; add 1/2 C evaporated 2% milk & 1 tsp lemon juice. Warm through (don't let simmer). top w/tips. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan (optional). Serves 4
Monday, April 15, 2013
Day 56 - It's Time... Time for Plan B
That's it - I'm throwing in the towel on the pre-packaged food diet. I just can't do it anymore and it did what I needed it to do to get me started and get some of the weight off but it's time for me to graduate to real food. Now to pick a diet (because I absolutely cannot keep going on my own). I need direction, ideas, motivation & the big one - accountability. So this week I will make a decision - Weight Watchers is at the top of my list but I've been looking into TrimLine (congrats to a friend of mine, Sue, that lost over 50 pounds on that diet plan). The only problem with TrimLine is that there aren't any in the county I live in but I'm going to do a little more research about that one. Ideally, in my perfect world I would have a plethera of chubby friends that would all be on a mission to lose weight and we would share recipes, exercise together, encourage each other and weigh-in in front of each other (and probably wear matching t-shirts, lose a ton of weight and be featured on the Today show for such an inovative idea - hey, I said in my "perfect" world). But in my non-perfect reality - not all my friends are chubby and all of them are busy. We can't even make time for our weekly Wine Wednesday lunch. And if Wine isn't a big enough motivator then talking about being fat surely isn't going to bring them out in droves.
What about a private Facebook page where whoever wants to join can - fat or thin (we need input and ideas from the skinny people too). I did something like this (about a year ago) w/a group someone started locally and it seemed to work pretty well. They charged $20 to join and then at the end of 12 weeks whoever lost the largest percentage of body weight won the pot. Everyone that joins this page can post their recipes, their struggles, their exercise ideas, and once a week we post our weight (a photo of our feet on a scale w/the weight displayed). Would anyone be interested? Like I said it would be a private page - if you join you need to participate (no creepers allowed). Hmmm... I'm kind of liking this idea (and it would be cheaper). Let me know what you think.
Oh, and my excitement for the weekend was I dropped my iPhone in the toilet (yep after I used it - #1 only thank you Lord) and I was a little shocked by my reaction time - I pulled that little package of knowledge out so fast you would have thought it was one of my children. Wrapped it up in layers and layers of toilet paper (I wasn't home) and then left the bathroom carrying what looked like a tiny baby Jesus (all swaddled up like that). Stuffed it in a bag of rice as soon as I got home where it stayed all by itself for the weekend. Without my phone all weekend I felt like a mom that feels like they left their child somewhere and doesn't realize it for awhile - ask my kids - I did that to all of them. It was for very short periods of time so they were fine. You know what I mean, that constant reaching for your phone and then the split second panic - where is it? It was very stressful. It does appear to be working but I guess they rarely go unscathed after being submerged in toilet water but we'll see.
RECIPE OF THE DAY - Mine
VEGGIE PIZZA (The veggies are healthy but that's about the extent of it)
2 pkgs. reduced fat crescent rolls
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing
1 C low fat Mayo
1 - 8 oz. pkg 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 C Grated low fat Cheddar Cheese
2/3 C each of Broccoli, Cauliflour, Carrots & Tomato
Spread rolls on cookie sheet & pinch edges together. Bake as directed & cool. Mix together mayo., ranch dressing, cream cheese & 1/2 of the veggies. Spread over crust. Top w/remaining veggies & cheese. YUM!
What about a private Facebook page where whoever wants to join can - fat or thin (we need input and ideas from the skinny people too). I did something like this (about a year ago) w/a group someone started locally and it seemed to work pretty well. They charged $20 to join and then at the end of 12 weeks whoever lost the largest percentage of body weight won the pot. Everyone that joins this page can post their recipes, their struggles, their exercise ideas, and once a week we post our weight (a photo of our feet on a scale w/the weight displayed). Would anyone be interested? Like I said it would be a private page - if you join you need to participate (no creepers allowed). Hmmm... I'm kind of liking this idea (and it would be cheaper). Let me know what you think.
Oh, and my excitement for the weekend was I dropped my iPhone in the toilet (yep after I used it - #1 only thank you Lord) and I was a little shocked by my reaction time - I pulled that little package of knowledge out so fast you would have thought it was one of my children. Wrapped it up in layers and layers of toilet paper (I wasn't home) and then left the bathroom carrying what looked like a tiny baby Jesus (all swaddled up like that). Stuffed it in a bag of rice as soon as I got home where it stayed all by itself for the weekend. Without my phone all weekend I felt like a mom that feels like they left their child somewhere and doesn't realize it for awhile - ask my kids - I did that to all of them. It was for very short periods of time so they were fine. You know what I mean, that constant reaching for your phone and then the split second panic - where is it? It was very stressful. It does appear to be working but I guess they rarely go unscathed after being submerged in toilet water but we'll see.
RECIPE OF THE DAY - Mine
VEGGIE PIZZA (The veggies are healthy but that's about the extent of it)
2 pkgs. reduced fat crescent rolls
1 pkg. dry ranch dressing
1 C low fat Mayo
1 - 8 oz. pkg 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 C Grated low fat Cheddar Cheese
2/3 C each of Broccoli, Cauliflour, Carrots & Tomato
Spread rolls on cookie sheet & pinch edges together. Bake as directed & cool. Mix together mayo., ranch dressing, cream cheese & 1/2 of the veggies. Spread over crust. Top w/remaining veggies & cheese. YUM!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Day 52 - When Do You Decide to Take the Leap?
I'm curious as to where this NEED to bake has stemmed from. Wouldn't it be nice if it was a need to cook, or a need to clean, or a need to exercise. That would put me at a completely different place in my life if my "need" was different then what it is. My daughter in CO asked me for one of my recipes this morning and immediatley I wanted to run home and make it. My other daughter keeps asking me to go on her Pinterest Page and look at all the recipes for baking she has collected - I can't do it. I will stay up til all hours of the morning printing recipes and making my grocery list and then when I get a moment I will come up with a perfect reason to bake and bake and bake.
It's an addiction really. I actually convinced myself a little while back that baking is a workout for my arms. I never use a mixer so I have to stir all those cookie batters by hand. What I realized with that theory was that if it was true that flab on the upper part of my arms would not be flapping away when I'm stirring my workout cookies. I wonder if they have any "Baker Support Groups - Hi, I'm Becky and I'm a Baker. Anyone want a cookie or brownie, I have some in my purse." (You think I'm kidding, I'm not). I actually am known to carry baked goods on me or close to me. That's a problem!
So my thoughts are that maybe I can incorporate this need I have into a living. The problem is that for years and years I have given my baked goods away. I'm not sure how people would like if I started saying, "Do you want a cookie, give me a buck. Say what??? I never had to pay for them before..." Also, would I possibly ever get sick of eating cookie batter because that would have to happen quickly or sooner then later I will actually look like my Aunt Helen (that was explained in a previous blog). So I continue to put off my dream and come up with reasons/excuses why now is not the time (because I am making way too much money at my present job (I'm a realtor and a partner in a real estate company so that is extreme sarcasm)). But I wait. I wait for the time to "feel" right. I wait for me to be stronger financially. I wait for any possible reason to bounce around in my head to convince me I can't do it and I listen to it and wait.
Now this is soooo weird. I just went onto FB to see if I could find something motivational that someone posted that would fit my blog for today and my dear friend from high school just posted the following...
"
It's an addiction really. I actually convinced myself a little while back that baking is a workout for my arms. I never use a mixer so I have to stir all those cookie batters by hand. What I realized with that theory was that if it was true that flab on the upper part of my arms would not be flapping away when I'm stirring my workout cookies. I wonder if they have any "Baker Support Groups - Hi, I'm Becky and I'm a Baker. Anyone want a cookie or brownie, I have some in my purse." (You think I'm kidding, I'm not). I actually am known to carry baked goods on me or close to me. That's a problem!
So my thoughts are that maybe I can incorporate this need I have into a living. The problem is that for years and years I have given my baked goods away. I'm not sure how people would like if I started saying, "Do you want a cookie, give me a buck. Say what??? I never had to pay for them before..." Also, would I possibly ever get sick of eating cookie batter because that would have to happen quickly or sooner then later I will actually look like my Aunt Helen (that was explained in a previous blog). So I continue to put off my dream and come up with reasons/excuses why now is not the time (because I am making way too much money at my present job (I'm a realtor and a partner in a real estate company so that is extreme sarcasm)). But I wait. I wait for the time to "feel" right. I wait for me to be stronger financially. I wait for any possible reason to bounce around in my head to convince me I can't do it and I listen to it and wait.
Now this is soooo weird. I just went onto FB to see if I could find something motivational that someone posted that would fit my blog for today and my dear friend from high school just posted the following...
"
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