MOLLY'S DIET RANTS! (ranting, raving, motivating & more)

RANTING BURNS CALORIES!

This is an open, ongoing, support-encourage-motivational-RANTING thread. Feel free to skip to the end, or spend days reading through all of this ...

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I have decided that "Diet" is a 4-letter word.

I find myself muttering and uttering the word around my house these days with loathing and vehemence previously reserved only for comments directed toward liberal politicians. In fact, I seem to be talking to myself a lot more these days .... sort of a running, sarcastic commentary on all the foods I can't eat, or on various other related topics. I wonder if there is a link between calorie-deprivation and Tourettes Syndrome? Grrrrrrrrr.....

I am now on Day 8 of the dreaded D-word. This is already the longest period of time that I have ever successfully remained on a diet. And I seem to be growing grouchier and feistier each day..... at least when I am alone and no one is around to hear my running rants. (My wonderful DH has heard some of my more memorable rants on the subject of broccolli and reports that I am hysterically funny when I am hungry!) I am counting carbs. I am counting calories. I am counting fat grams. Sheesh ... now my math anxiety is about to kick-in!

Mini Rant #1 .... what masochist decided that the serving size of cereal was anything less than 2 cups? Have you ever measured out 2/3 a cup of cereal? Or even a full cup? And placed it in a bowl? Those few little flakes and pieces just sit forlornly at the bottom of the bowl, shivering and lonely, even when we dribble on a few meager droplets of skim milk! Sheesh. Well, I can tell you that there is simply no way that my oversized body is going to be happy with that tiny amount of cereal ... so I have been eating TWO servings for breakfast. SIGH. And while the side of the box says that I can supplement the cereal with some fruit, they probably don't mean eat 45 cherries with your cereal -- much less 1/2 a watermelon, huh?

Mini Rant #2 .... Things NOT to say to someone who has told you that they have just started on a diet:

1.Good, you sure needed it.
2. It's about time.
3. Really? It doesn't look like it.
4. Again? Haven't we heard this before?
5. Gosh, how much weight do you need to lose?
6. What do you weigh? I've always wondered.
7. I never need to diet, I have a fast metabolism.
8. Really? I can eat all I want and never gain weight.
9. Is THAT why you are so grouchy?
10. I sure hope you plan to exercise a lot more.

AAAUGGH! All of these responses are just the thing to make me even grouchier .... so just smile and say something encouraging and supportive, ok? I will let you know how it is going.

_____

=^..^=  Molly 

WELCOME TO MOLLY'S MOTIVATIONAL RANT / CHAT THREAD ... FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR RANTS, TOO!  YOU CAN EITHER READ FROM THE BEGINNING OR JUST JUMP ON IN ON THE LAST PAGE ... JOIN US! 

Original Post by mollymouser:

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Let us know how they are!!!!

 

The salmon burgers were great! Only problem was the post-dinner kitchen smell. That's why we usually grill our fish outside...

Anyway, if you want to try, here's a link to the recipe! http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/wasabi_salm on_burger.html

 

ARRRGGGH!  The clothing industry is out to get me! 

Not only do I have clothing in a variety of sizes that fit the same, but NOTHING has belt loops!  (ok, ok, I admit that my jeans and khakis have the belt loops)  None of my dress pants and none of my skirts do.  As I currently have no extra money, I need the belt loops for obvious reasons!

Also, does anybody know where I can get nice dress pants, khakis and cords that aren't embroidered in JUNIORS sizes?  Belt loops a plus!  Plain jeans are also needed. 

On the plus positive side, I had 3 people tell me this past week that I needed smaller pants. 

Today I need to rant about....flu shots!!

For the second time in my adult life, I got a flu shot and ended up sick 36 hours later!! NO MORE FLU SHOTS!!

Now, my realistic brain tells me there's no connection, but can it be coincidence twice??

Have felt lousy since Friday evening, didn't get to sing (couldn't even Talk!!) on Sunday Morning, and am sitting in this office wondering why I didn't stay home in bed??

Needless to say, my "healthy living plan" is going nowhere...no planned meals, no exercise...till I can breathe and move easily again!

Dang Flu Shot!!

 

Rose, I am afraid that when it comes to shopping for Junior size clothing, I am no help whatsoever. In fact, I never wore junior clothes .... I think I skipped from being a chubby kid to wearing women's size 14 and never looked back.  And, in all honesty, I don't think I've worn a belt since the 1980s.  Still, why not start with a department store? If you were here, I'd suggest Kohl's, Macy's, Mervyn's, Target and Penneys.... and avoid the junior stores in the Mall.

Grrr....jeans. I had three pair in my closet (all elastic waist, thank you) ...but in three different sizes. I tried on the first pair ... so baggy and loose they fell off when I walked around the room. OUT they went, into the "Donate" pile.  The second pair were also verrrrrry baggy and droopy and lose, and I easily could've fit a 22-pound cat down each leg -- along with my chubby thighs. I wanted to put them in the "donate" pile, but my DH wanted me to keep them because they looked comfortable.  Sheesh. Finally, he let me donate them. (It can be a bit challenging being married to a semi-packrat.)  The third pair fit ... but because they have some Spandex in them, they ARE a bit clingier than I am used to, and they do show every lump, bulge and curve .... but they aren't too tight, and I plan to wear them with big, long sweatshirts and sweaters and tunics OVER my abdomen, hip areas where all the bulges are, ya know?  My DH kept asking if they were comfortable since, in our 4.5 years of marriage, he has NEVER seen me wear anything that wasn't completely baggy/loose .... nor did I use to wear jeans more than once or twice a YEAR.  As I continue to lose weight and can fit into different types of clothes, I think he will need some time to adjust.

Still, it was encouraging to toss out those 34/46 jeans and the 30 jeans, and to be able to wear the 28 jeans, ya know?

=^..^= MOLLY

Kris ... I am sorry you are feeling sick. (But you didn't get the flu from your flu shot!)  I know, I know, it feels like it ... it seems like it ... and it looks like it ... but you didn't.   But, since you aren't feeling well .... now is the perfect time to pamper and take extra good care of yourself ... plenty of hot tea with honey and lemon, yummy chicken soup, toast, and macaroni and cheese. (At least  those are my "sick foods.")  Don't worry about exercising right now .... your body needs its strength to get better and battle the flu bug.

(( hug ))

Get well soon.

=^..^= MOLLY

Sue, I'm so sorry you're under the weather. I sure hope you feel better for the holiday. You have an excuse not exercising -- I guess I do too...but it's not a good one!

I think I may make it to the gym right after work. I hope so..I'm going to be a marshmallow forever if I don't get moving! I mean when carrying your purse hurts your arms, it's time to get in shape!

OK, I bought a cloth tape measure. Now I've got to figure out what to do with it! Of course I immediately tried to measure my waist. My recollection was that my waist was somewhere above my belly button by a couple of inches. Something seems to have happened in the last 20 yrs or so-- the smallest part of my torso is getting really close to where my bra starts! And do you measure your waist in a relaxed state? semi-sucked? blue in the face sucked? Hip and thigh measurements you can't really mess with that much --find the biggest part and there you go. They are what they are, waists are tricky.

Waist measuring - I would go with semi-sucked OR at the very end of a large exhale where you are having to push everything in.

Thanks Ladies

Molly, opted for homeade beef barley soup this weekend instead of chicken noodle...yum. Mac'n'cheese, however, might prove to be fatal for me!!! 911 tape might play as follows: " Help, I've overstuffed with mac'n'cheese and I can't stop!"

Waists, chris and meagn have waists?? Oh, I think I know what a waist is. That's where the elastic at the top of my slacks digs in between the rolls around my torso!!! So, how to measure? Well, really tight like the elastic, I s'pose!

I gave up having a waist about two decades ago, now I just seem to have a crease between my upper tummy and my larger, lower tummy.  You mean that crease is called a waist? ROFL!

* * *

MANIACS AT THE GROCERY STORE

NOTE TO SELF: Do not go shopping on the Monday before Thanksgiving EVER again -- people out there have clearly and completely LOST IT!

I needed groceries, so I ventured out to two grocery stores this morning. My first stop was our local "Grocery Outlet" because I needed to buy a dozen bags of oyster crackers for Thursday-Thanksgiving, and I knew they had HUGE bags of them for 79 cents a bag. (For those of you who are wondering what we're doing with a dozen huge bags of oyster crackers, our Thanksgiving tradition every year is to go to one of our local parks and feed the wild ducks and the squirrels, and the oyster crackers float really nicely and are perfectly paw-sized for the scampering squirrels! It's just one of the things that we do to show our thankfulness... ) From what I could tell, approximately 17,000 other people ALSO decided to go shopping at the same store, but first they had to race around the parking lot blindfolded -- or so it seemed. I saw TWO different fender-benders before I even parked my car!

Inside, it was pure mayhem -- they were (apparently) having some sort of special pre-Thanksgiving sale (who knew?) and certain aisles were packed. Fortunately for me, I was in no rush, and actually had a great time "treasure hunting" in the store for healthy stuff, organic stuff, and good prices. SCORE! Kashi cereals at about 40 percent off! (I bought 5 boxes!) Frozen Amy's organic spinach lasagna and chicken enchiladas for DH, woo hoo! They also had South Beach and Kashi granola bars on sale, so I bought them for DH, too. I also picked up some organic french onion soup, some fresh collard greens (a HUGE bag for 79 cents) and some great looking sweet red peppers!

My next stop was Trader Joe's, where I actually saw two women arguing and fighting over what they THOUGHT was the last package of Tofurkey. Oh my gosh -- surely it must be the end of things as we know it if otherwise sane people are fighting over tofu turkey? (Then again, an argument could be made that otherwise sane people don't want smooshed up tofu made to look like turkey, huh?) Just as things were starting to get tense and I was sure that these women would be pelting each other with organic edamame, a staff member brought out MORE Tofurkey. Still another woman was in tears near the refrigerated case, wailing that "It won't be Thanksgiving without my Tahini!" I just scurried past her with my cart, safe in the knowledge that my Tahini-less Thanksgiving would at least have baby asparagus .... which is why I was at TJ's in the first place. I also picked up some TJ's Frosted High Fiber Multigrain cereal, some more Omega 3-6-9 Fish Oil pills, and the Trader Jose's frozen chicken quesadillas that my DH wanted. I only saw ONE accident in the parking lot ... two carts crashing into the side of a really nice Ford F-350.

Whew. That was stressful and exhausting ... and I still need to hit Whole Foods (hummus, radishes, Amy's organic frozen Shepherd's Pie) and the regular grocery store (fat free bologna -- I must have it!), spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Thank goodness my wonderful DH has agreed to brave the insanity and the crowds to take me to these two places .... YIKES!

=^..^= MOLLY

Speaking of Whole Foods, I went into a new Whole Foods last night with DH.  I had never been to one before, so during since we were out for date night and were walking around a new megaplex shopping center in our area, I suggested walking through it.  HOLY CANNOLI!  That place was HUGE!  There were several "eat in" sections, a tea bar, a coffee bar, a very large wine section, and a cheese section to die for.  I stood and just stared at it.... drooling no less.  But to end all, they had a concierge! ("Excuse me, where can I find your massive cheese section?"  "Oh, it's no trouble.  Just walk 2 miles to the wine section and turn right, then it's about another mile straight ahead.  You can't miss it.  But just in case, here's a map.")  Gotta love Orange County. :)  But I can see why Molly calls it "Whole Paycheck".  Whew!  Didn't have ostrich though.  I am on the hunt.

Sue-I have a friend who gets sick every time she gets a flu shot.  She has sworn them off too.  Hope you feel better soon.

Molly- Congrat on the smaller size.  It always feels so good to go down a size or two.  Congrats on the weight loss too. 

I measure my waist right above my belly button.  I don't suck in, but I don't push out my stomach either. 

Original Post by krismasself:

Thanks Ladies

Molly, opted for homeade beef barley soup this weekend instead of chicken noodle...yum. Mac'n'cheese, however, might prove to be fatal for me!!! 911 tape might play as follows: " Help, I've overstuffed with mac'n'cheese and I can't stop!"

Waists, chris and meagn have waists?? Oh, I think I know what a waist is. That's where the elastic at the top of my slacks digs in between the rolls around my torso!!! So, how to measure? Well, really tight like the elastic, I s'pose!

You gals are all so funny!  Nice for a smile at the beginning of the day!

I am proud to report that I am wearing the smaller slacks I bought on sale the other day ++takes bow++  I neatly folded the larger ones being replaced and said "goodbye, big old pants!"

I had a smaller than usual breakfast in preparation for our big 25th anniversary dinner out tonight!  We decided to take our boys (age 15 & 19) out with us because they've been such a blessing to us (sniff, sniff).  We're going to a terrific fancy place here called Bookbinders.  Don't know if it's a chain or not, but it's very nice. I'm even making the boys wear ties -- and as a gift to me, they're not complaining!  :)

Bookbinders? is that in Washington DC or Boston, can't recall. Seems I've been there, once upon a time.

Boys wearing ties, without complaint? May I borrow them for my wedding party please? My future SIL says he's never owned a suit so could he just wear a sweater over his shirt?? And he didn't plan to make his son, who's to be the "ring bearer" wear a tie, just a clean shirt! Heaven help me!! I think the groom may have to take them shopping!!

Does everyone have a "Game Plan" for Thurday?

 

Boys wearing ties, without complaint? May I borrow them for my wedding party please? My future SIL says he's never owned a suit so could he just wear a sweater over his shirt?? And he didn't plan to make his son, who's to be the "ring bearer" wear a tie, just a clean shirt! Heaven help me!! I think the groom may have to take them shopping!!

 

Whatcha have to do is play psychology on your soon-to-be SIL: tell them they all have to rent the whole nine yards --tuxes, ****, shiny shoes, yada. A real sissy color would be a nice touch too. Cry and stomp your feet! Then you can eventually 'give in' and 'allow' them to wear suits & ties. You can be laughing so hard inside that the tears won't even have to be fake!

I may have a slightly evil streak in me....

Original Post by chris1208:

Whatcha have to do is play psychology on your soon-to-be SIL: tell them they all have to rent the whole nine yards --tuxes, ****, shiny shoes, yada.

I truly didn't type something dirty in there (****) I don't know why but the word for the cloth belt that goes around the waste of a tuxedo would not display dispite two tries. ? It was even spelled correctly, I think. do do do do (Hear twilight zone theme.)

****

Oh brother.  It really doesn't work. :D

Hmmm ... maybe it's a new dirty word and we didn't get the memo?

Drat, I hate it when that happens ... and I'm left standing around and looking old-fashioned because all I can think to say is .... butterscotch.

(giggle)

My game plan for Thursday is to sleep in, snuggly-warm under the covers.... getting up ONLY to go soak in the hot tub. At some point we will shower and dress and head to the park to feed the duckies and the squirrels ... a Thanksgiving tradition. Then home for more snuggling.  I'm making tuna sashimi for dinner which, last time I checked, required cutting but no actual COOKING.  Of course, the grilled asparagus and acorn squash need cooking, but that can take place while I am sushifying my tuna.

Oh, and we'll watch Surivivor.

=^..^= MOLLY

Oh Chris, I like the way your brain works! Have you been watching "Bridezilla" on the cable channel???

I've put a lot of effort into "keeping it simple" so I'm not overly distraught over this. But I did have DH talk to the son and grandson. Originally he said, "If you don't have suits, I think we should rent tuxedos. But I'm not paying for them!" So I think the son's answer about going tie-less was a bit of retaliation. So silly, these men!!

I wonder why that "****" word bleeped out???

Edit: Well, I tried a similar word, and still couldn't get it to work. Interesting, and I suspect I know why, but at least we all know what we're talking about, and it ain't "dirty-mouthed" either!

We've been invited to my brothers for Thanksgiving dinner, and I'm bringing the corn pudding. So here's my plan for the day:

• get out for a walk in the morning to get the metabolism kick-started.
• eat light for b'fast & lunch...if I skip those meals, I put myself in danger of overeating at dinner
• I will picture my plate having 4 sections, so I can only have 4 selections from the huge variety of dishes being passed around the table. Keeping in mind that one of those selections might be dessert, that may limit my dinner selections to only 3, so I'll have to choose very carefully
• I will concentrate on the people, not the food!
• I will give Thanks to and for my Lord, for life and family, for love and friendship, for faith and prosperity!

Oddly enough, my plans for Thanksgiving are still a bit up in the air. I will be making a traditional dinner including a 23 pound turkey (I'm praying for leftovers after my stepson gets to it!) I have three siblings in the general area but they are all doing inlaws this holiday. My widowed mother will have dinner with us and then we plan to go to her house for desert (strategic: leftover desert stays at her house.) My sibs can then stop and visit with her as their tummies deflat. My son may or may not eat with his father, my daughter is in France until Christmas, and we need to get my stepson to a point inbetween his bio-mom's house and ours for the traditional holiday child trade off. The trade off could be Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and it's a four hour trip one way. I don't have much say in it so I'm just floating along until I get the word.

Foodwise, I think I'll probably eat a pretty 'normal' feast but just keep the portions way down. I also won't bother with anything that I don't REALLY like. I'm sure I'll go over for the day (hard not to with only 1280 to work with) but not more than 2000 cals total. I can live with that for a day.

I'm feeling especially grateful this Thanksgiving: My family is healthy, my kids are in college and happy to be there, I have a great job and I have a supportive  loving husband. It scares me a little bit to write it all out! How can things be so good for me? I'm not usually a pessimist but I do find myself looking for that darn other foot to come down...

Original Post by chris1208:

Original Post by chris1208:

Whatcha have to do is play psychology on your soon-to-be SIL: tell them they all have to rent the whole nine yards --tuxes, ****, shiny shoes, yada.

I truly didn't type something dirty in there (****) I don't know why but the word for the cloth belt that goes around the waste of a tuxedo would not display dispite two tries. ? It was even spelled correctly, I think. do do do do (Hear twilight zone theme.)

Ok, I confess. I was an English major.  I think you were looking for "****," which is the wide belt-type thing worn with a tuxedo.  Strangely enough, my younger son has worn a tux twice in the last 2 weeks for music performances and he hasn't minded.  This is a boy who has trouble finding a collared shirt most Sundays for church.  It's one extreme or the other.  Teenagers will boggle the mind, for sure!

I agree that you should have your wedding any way you want to - Bride's Prerogative.  Just say that with a raised eyebrow and maybe you'll scare them into submission! ;)

And amen to your prayers of Thanksgiving!!!! 

(EDIT)

Now I get what was happening to you all!!!! Duh!  I swear I typed it correctly.  Now I wonder what word the  computer thought we were all saying?  Pretty soon we'll be known as the potty-mouthed group!

 

Can I just say that I miss my mom?  I'm a grown woman, and this is not my first thanksgiving away from my parents (it's my second), but man, I've been grouchy all day just knowing that I'm not going to see my parents on thursday.  bummer.

my plan for turkey day is to wake up early, as usual, and run the big bridge in our town, which is the only elevation in our coastal paradise.  It's about a 3 mile roundtrip run and will, embarrasingly enough, take me about 45 minutes to traverse.  Usually thursdays are spin class days, but the gym is closed and I thought this would be a nice *treat*.

Then my DH and I are headed an hour south to meet my grandmother, aunt & unlce at my grandma's retirement village to eat at their cafeteria.  (so I will at least be with some family for the holiday).  I'm not sure what to expect food-wise, but I am anticipating lots of soft foods...