Gym Epiphany & Hiatus

I had an awesome workout on Saturday at the gym. It was one of those "I don't want to stop" workouts, and I'm still sore. Actually, the gym I usually go to on Saturdays closed down, so I went to the one a few miles up the road. They have a pool and spa and everything! Someday, when I'm not trying to do ten million things at once, I'll have to try out the pool and spa.

Anyway, the epiphany I had is that I am way too busy to feel guilty about not updating this blog! All my weight and body image stuff is going on over at BFD anyway, and I'm not actively trying to lose weight right now; just trying to keep my head above water in terms of life, get my fruits and veggies, and work out as often as I can. I may very well be back, but for now, consider this blog on hiatus.

Health News

I went to the doctor today for a physical, and I am officially healthier than I was last year. My cholesterol has gone from 207 (borderline) to 184 (normal) with a corresponding downward shift in my "bad" cholesterol. My "good" cholesterol (HDL I guess) is still the same, and is 44 when they want it at 50 or above. Not sure how to raise good cholesterol, but I'm sure some of you good people will be able to tell me.

My cholesterol has been borderline (in the 200 range) for a long time now, and it's incredibly gratifying to see it down at 184. I've lost 7 pounds over that same period, but most of that was in the last two weeks. Anyway, that's a 25-point lowering of my cholesterol, and that is a number really worth focusing on. WOO!

Week Two, Star One

I got a little star on my bookmark this week, because I lost one more pound, bringing me to 5.2 pounds lost. I lost weight in spite of having another busy social week--plus, that 4.2 pound loss from last week was clearly not a fluke. So, good! Just gotta stick with it this week.

I actually got up and walked out of the meeting (not "in protest" or anything, but subtly) because the leader was talking about Thanksgiving strategies and how to deal with it and blah blah, and then she passed out Thanksgiving-decorated placemats with the phrase "nothing tastes as good as thin feels." I avoided rolling my eyes into the back of my head, but I did get up and leave. If I never read that sentence again, it'll be too soon.

Obviously I have nothing super exciting to say today, but I figured I'd come report my one-pound loss anyway. If I can keep losing one pound per week, I'll hit my goal (24 pounds) by my birthday (March). Go go go!

Extra Ticker Tape!

I posted my last post to the book blog instead of this blog. Oops! I've done that before, though; the book blog has "pie" in the title so I guess I assume it's about food! Anyway, see below for the post that I made this week all about how this week sucked. I kept writing things down, but there were a lot of challenges this week. Did I mention the work meeting where they provided lunch, and all they had was pizza? Not even pizza and salad. Just pizza.

By some miracle, I managed to lose 4.2 pounds this week. Was it hormones? A fluke? Was I wearing super heavy pants least week? I can't figure it out. I did keep writing things down. I did walk a lot. I was mindful of my choices, even though they weren't always the best. I only ate one piece of Halloween candy all week. It was the first week, so maybe I "lost water weight" (whatever that means). I'm flummoxed. But I'm down to 244.0 so woo hoo!

My goal is to lose the first 10% (you know, where they give you a keychain) by my birthday, which is in March. That would mean a loss of 24 pounds, putting me down at 224.2. I hope that my reflux problems will clear up by then. (My knee hasn't been bothering me at all, actually; maybe exercise has helped it.)

Today after the meeting I went to TJ's and stocked up on those parfaits (I never got a chance to get them last week, since I went out, like, every night). I just had one for breakfast; mmm. I also bought a Weight Watchers cookbook (they were on sale) and hopefully we can find one or two new recipes in there. And by "we" I mean "Ian." I will cheer him on and wash the dishes after he cooks the things.

There was a woman at the meeting today who has been on Weight Watchers for two years and has lost 185 pounds. She passed around her "before" pictures and talked about how her purpose in life is to motivate people. The message was "don't quit." I have to say I was impressed by her. Who says Weight Watchers doesn't work? I guess if you see it as a "lifestyle change" and stay on it forever, it does! (That's kind of a scary thought, but it's true. Diets don't work; changing your habits does. I guess that's the takeaway there.)

Keep your fingers crossed that next week I maintain this magical 4.2 pound loss! Only 19.8 pounds to go.

Ticker Tape Parade To Come?

So, this was probably the worst week in 2007 that I could possibly have started on Weight Watchers. Answer this question: what derails your weight loss efforts?

How about, social plans? I have three dinners out and one lunch out planned for this week. (And they're all too important to cancel.) I've tried to calibrate my choices and keep points in mind, but so far I have not been 100% successful.

Holidays, you say? A holiday involving candy? A holiday involving cookies and candy brought to my desk? I was able to say no to someone with candy, but the person who brought us giant chocolate chip cookies of appreciation, I did not say no to.

Perhaps stress? Well, this week my baby nephew has been in the hospital with an unidentified disease, getting blood transfusions. Yes. Somehow counting points CEASES TO FEEL IMPORTANT at those types of moments.

Also, work stress! One person on our team quit and so we're short staffed; we had a big meeting yesterday; our job descriptions are being discussed; I'm having my performance review... etc. etc.

So, yeah. I am still writing things down; still trying to keep my head above water. But man. If I just manage to maintain my weight this week, I'll throw myself a ticker tape parade.

Well, I didn't do any of that stuff I said I was going to do the last time I posted (two weeks ago, was it?) It's still Sunday morning; I still have time to go to the gym today. That I should definitely do.

The truth is, I went ahead and went back to Weight Watchers this morning. What spurred this on was that this week, my knees started hurting. I walk up and down stairs all day at work and I found myself dreading the trip up the stairs because my knee was aching. And you know, I hope nobody thinks this is a betrayal of body positivity, but I think if I lose weight, my knee will stop hurting. I also think if I lose weight, I won't have to take Pepcid anymore. Both the knee pain and the Pepcid are new developments and I think I am just over the threshold where my body can be fat and fit. These little health things are worrying and I want to nip them in the bud. By dropping some weight. I don't want to get back to my highest weight of like 285 or whatever it was, or even my highest pre-WW weight of 264. I need to take back the night, as it were.

It feels very comfortable to be going back to Weight Watchers and I feel good about it. I think the principles of the program are very sound. If you do the Core plan, you don't have any food limits at all; you just have to eat the Core foods which have good energy density; the plan is based around foods that are high protein, high fiber, low fat, low carb. Lots of fruits and veggies. Who's gonna argue with that? I'm going to do the points, though. I think it's a good idea to emphasize the Core foods while you eat on the Flex plan. You end up eating a lot healthier in the end.

After the meeting (where I weighed in at 248 pounds, yes I said it) I went to Trader Joe's to try and get ingredients for my own version of the Starbucks fruit and yogurt parfait. Lo and behold, TJ's has their own fruit and yogurt parfait with nonfat Greek yogurt, awesome granola, strawberries and blueberries, and it is 90 calories less (and has more fiber) than the Starbucks version. Pointswise, it's only a one-point difference (it's 5 rather than 6 points) but it's definitely a better choice. Oh, and it's also like $1.50 cheaper!

I have to buy some more of those parfaits tomorrow night, and then bring them to work for the rest of the week. (I can't bring them tomorrow because I leave the house at 6:30 but don't get to a fridge at work until after 10 in the morning.)

Okay, I didn't mean to go on and on about parfaits. It's just that logistics (like the transportation of yogurt parfaits) are getting in the way of my life right now. For instance, I spent all day yesterday grading papers, and I still have a pile to do today. I get so consumed with schoolwork that I shove fitness and nutrition straight to the back burner.... it's not good. Maybe I should work fewer jobs or fewer hours... that's one of the goals for 2009, I think. But as for today, I guess if I can get these graded and get to the gym, today will be a win on both levels. Wish me luck.

Whither Contents?

A couple of people have e-mailed and commented asking me what's going on with this blog; have I abandoned it? I haven't abandoned it, but I'm trying to figure out what to do with it.

It comes down to priorities and time management. At the moment I have a full-time job, plus I teach part time, plus I am trying to post at Big Fat Deal at least daily (my goal is twice daily but unless someone decides to give me a pile of money and I can quit one of my jobs...) I've toyed with the idea of doing personal posts on BFD occasionally, related to my working out or my eating or whatnot. I'm not sure if that would change the other blog too much, though.

Anyway, I'm leaning against that. In the meantime, I haven't been writing down my food or weighing myself. I've been exercising on the weekends for longer periods, since the week has been busy. Of course, I need to re prioritize, because I realize just in typing this that I need a better balance. I can't let the semester drag me down and keep me from working out and being healthy. Maybe I should start small and post a goal for the week and then come report back next weekend!

Okay, my goal for the week is to write down what I am eating (I'll consider it an assessment week) and work out for at least an hour. Oh, and I'll weigh myself, too. I'll be back and let you know how it goes.